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Baker's Dozen

Songs Of Life: Leftfield's Favourite Albums
Dom Smith , October 13th, 2015 09:32

As he continues his UK dates in support of this year's Alternative Light Source, Leftfield's Neil Barnes takes us on a tour of some seminal albums that shaped his music, alongside a few current favourites

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Paranoid London - Paranoid London
From what I can guess about Paranoid London, they're not playing the digital game at all. I could only get it on vinyl and it sold out immediately. The only place I know that you can listen to it is on YouTube. It's such a brilliant record. It's a dirty record, that's what this is. Simply put, this record is minimal: simple drum machine and absolutely mad lyrics, mad singers all the way through, long tracks, double vinyl. One of the tracks I really like is 'Paris Dub 3', which I think is brilliant. 'Light Tunnel' is brilliant and 'Eating Glue' is hilarious. I've been playing this record everywhere, doing Leftfield DJ sets, and people ask if I'm going to play Leftfield and I say, "No, it's Paranoid London, mate." It's a top house record.

I got this early January [of 2014] and the notes on it were: "This is truly amazing, one of the best albums in a long time." It just talks back to an earlier time. It's got these vocals on it and a techno feel to it as well. It's underground, it's like a punk record made now, because they don't play the game and I like people that don't play the game. I think we need more of it, people just doing their own thing and not going near other stuff. I think it's a wicked record. Listen to this record if you like dance music.