Breaking Down

 

Colourbox - Breakdown (Second Version) [BAD 304 UK 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC]

I know that I need to re-rip all those Colourbox twelves at some point, but for now this is the first of three new rips which were among the most requested by blog donators in recent weeks. I thought all three deserved a new rip with my improved set-up.

The original version of Breakdown, released in November 1982 was a subdued dubby meander around new-wave synthpop with original vocalist Debbian Currie. Jump forward just a few months and get everybody back in the studio, without Currie but instead with the sweet soul voice of Lorita Grahame and you get a completely new song. This eight minutes of catchy electro-disco-pop was unlike anything else on 4AD ...and that only serves to make it that bit more special.

From those days long ago of fantastic b-sides, we get the majestic Tarantula in its finest form. Reworked well a few years later by This Mortal Coil and then recently 'plagiarised' by Beck, the original song takes the simplest of hooks with nonsense lyrics and layers it over a dub-electro beat. Just plain gorgeous.

In theory my pressing is actually the third version as this is the Geoff Pesche remaster for Warners, who took care of distribution for 4AD instead of Rough Trade. Bizarrely, I also recall that the seven-inch version appeared on a Ronco Chart Hits compilation, even though the single failed to chart.

A1 Breakdown

B1 Tarantula