Features

High Contrast

In the first of what will be a regular series of features on Knowledge, we asked High Contrast to choose six of his favourite tracks and talk about them.

1. The Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

The first song you've chosen is 'The Windmills of Your Mind'. According to WikiPedia it's from the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair and Noel Harrison performed the song for the film score. Dusty Springfield's version of the song is also well known and other artists who have covered the song include Alison Moyet, Swing Out Sister, Edward Woodward and Sting, who totally crucified it in the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. Which version is your favourite?

It's the Edward Woodward version of course. No, the original is my fave, just sounds like nothing that would ever get made today.

What is it about this song that's so special?

It's a very atmospheric and evocative track with wonderfully cryptic lyrics that create vivid scenes in my mind. Of windmills.

2. Take My Breath Away - Berlin & Giorgio Moroder

Another song from a movie soundtrack, this was the theme tune to classic 80s film Top Gun. Giorgio Moroder also scored other popular films including Midnight Express, American Gigolo, Flashdance, The Never Ending Story, Cat People and Scarface. Perhaps a surprising choice for some people, what made you pick this?

It may be 80s cheese but it's still good goddammit! Makes me think of my childhood. The track was ubiquitous, yet strangely I've never seen Top Gun all the way through, just bits of it on ITV over the years. Has a very haunting melancholic feel that is right up my street along with music from Ocean games on the C64 and old skool Turkish Delight adverts.

Giorgio Moroder's work with synthesizers during the 1970s and 1980s had a significant influence on new wave, house, techno and electronic music in general. Are you also a fan of his work outside films?

I'm a big fan of Moroder, a total pioneer of electronic dance music. Love 'I Feel Love'. Check his tune with Bowie in Inglorious Basterds.

3. The Ecstasy of Gold - Ennio Morricone

Your love of films is well known so it's no surprise that your third choice is by a true legend of movie soundtracks. 'The Ecstasy of Gold' is part of his score for The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. Out of all his classic tracks why have you chosen this one?

He's probably got the most impressive back catalogue of ANY musician I can think of. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly soundtrack is the greatest original score of all time. And The Ecstasy of Gold just blows my mind every time I hear it.

Did you know that it is used for the beat on Jay-Z's song "Blueprint 2"? Do you use many movie samples in your tracks?

Aye, it has been rinsed out sample wise. I try and sample more obscure material, spot 'em if you can.

Would you like to score a film someday?

I would but I doubt it would be in a DnB stylee, DnB is too fast for the kind of films I like generally speaking.

4. Inner City Life - Goldie

Perhaps a less surprising choice and one of the best drum & bass tracks of all time. Tell us more about what this song means to you...

Well, it's the song that got me into DnB in the first place and still remains an inspiration today. Also love the less well known spin-off 'Outer Suburban Death'.

5. Life On Mars? - David Bowie

This needs no introduction, why have you chosen this?

Another song that you just don't hear the likes of today from an artist that has no equivalent today. What, Mika? I get fed up with lyrics about love all the time in songs and the lyrics here are very original. It's like a nonsense poem but it just feels right and very evocative again.

Are you much of a Bowie fan or is it just this track you like?

I generally go for individual tracks that catch my ear rather than follow an artist slavishly. Apart from Supertramp, they fucking rip.

6. Piano Trio in E Flat - Schubert

Finally, something a bit more soothing to end with. The Trio No. 2 in E-flat major for piano, violin, and violoncello was one of the last compositions completed by Franz Schubert, dated November 1827. Why have you chosen this?

You can say so much without words. Just listen to it.

Do you listen to a lot of classical music?

I do but like most things I got into it through movies, like this piece by Schubert was used in Kubrick's Barry Lyndon and pops up in a lot of Tony Scott pictures.

What did you make of Goldie conducting and performing at the Proms and is this something you'd like to try you hand at?

I thought it was a great thing for him to do, he took to the task most brilliantly but I prefer to be composing than conducting. Would like to get my hands on a full orchestra though.

'Hospitality Presents This Is Drum & Bass' mixed by High Contrast and London Elektricity is out now. Click here for more info.