50/Fifty Coming Down: #24 and #23
Matthew Herbert and FC Kahuna offer solace for troubled souls.
Matthew Herbert appears at #24 in his Doctor Rokit guise. From right at the end of the decade, this track – Café De Flore – originally appeared on the Indoor Fireworks album. It’s a beautiful piece of electronic jazz, with guitar, synths and accordian all blended together. It includes sounds and live recordings from Café De Flore, Boulevard Saint Germain, Paris. Makes you want to smoke a Gitanes.
And the official video
FC Kahuna were Jon Nowell and Daniel Ormondroyd. Much of their work was big beat / techno electronics but they never quite made it as they should have. On this single, they completely changed direction, away from the loud stuff. Hayling is a beautifully gentle tune with soft bleeps, odd wobbling and an enchanting vocal from Hafdís Huld Thrastardottir (formerly with Gus Gus). It’s since been remixed by everyone from Super Furry Animals, Chicken Lips, ILS and even the great Max Cooper but the original retains its prominence.
