A rough guide to Optimo Music – Selectors Select

So, with it being Bandcamp Friday, to help the uninitiated get started, or to shine a light on some occult gems, Ransom Note presents a list of some favourite songs, tracks, and releases as picked by Keith’s friends, peers, and admirers. Plus, in keeping with Optimo’s egalitarian attitude, we’ve scoured the website for some fan reviews too

Grab the last of any vinyl of Optimo Music of all the beauty discussed below on Optimo Music’s Bandcamp here. 

Gordon/GK Machine: Cold Stars from New Meridian – Open Yellow Circle / O Yuki Conjugate

This is an impossible task!! A quick search on discogs tells me I have 63 OM releases, all of which are favourites in some way: Space System, Golden Teacher, Tornado Wallace, Feon, Sex Judas, Mr TC, GÆG…and let’s not forget the compilations and cassettes! So how do I choose my “favourite”? I don’t. I just select one that I’ve recently been loving (aside from GÆG which I’ve been rinsing) and that is the Open Yellow Circle album. I’m not entirely sure why O Yuki Conjugate chose to rename themselves for this project but that’s what they did. It’s a swirling, psychedelic, at times even dubbed out masterpiece with the usual organic instrumentation in amongst the 4th world electronics and percussion that they’re familiar for. Endless mystery and spiritual enrichment with this one.

Julienne Dessagne (Fantastic Twins): Peter Zummo – Dress Code (Don’t Look At My Car)

Peter Zummo has long been one of my musical heroes. I knew him from his multiple collaborations with Arthur Russell, and being passionate about contemporary dance, a major highlight for me was Lateral Pass which Zummo composed for a choreography by Trisha Brown. When Keith told me he was about to release Dress Code on Optimo Music I was in awe. I immediately fell in love with this blissful, sublime piece of music. There’s something so beautifully effortless about it. Absolutely essential music.

Auntie Flo: Goya’s Skull – Whilst

“So many tracks and artists I could choose from.. was a nice trip down memory lane to go back right to the start of the label. I think there are two strands I’d highlight – how it defined the ‘sound of Glasgow’ and the foresight of Twitch to release many acts that went onto bigger things internationally. Most of the best Glasgow stuff came out of the Art School / Optimo / Green Door triangle – the likes of Golden Teacher, MR TC, Whilst,  Happy Meals/FREE LOVE are all typical of this, creating this punk funk, disco-not-disco outsider DIY sound that was heavily Optimo-influenced with all the kids pushing back against mainstream ‘clubbing’ and finding a home in the less-known live music venues around Glasgow such as Mono/Stereo/Flying Duck etc.

The other side was a catalogue of now-renowned international artists – I particularly enjoyed releases by Trikk, Tornado Wallace, Nicola Cruz, Bergsonist, Sara Dziri and Al Wooton – these artists all inspired to turnout their more flamboyant side as that was what Keith and Optimo pushed you to do – not to conform!  ” one of the earlier releases and one I played to death at the time (and still would play now!)

Dudekiller: Everyone Is Making IT Up – Semispecific Ensemble

A lovely slab of improv Balaeric koschmische jazz! They’ve chucked a little bit of everything from Ashra to Boredoms via Lindstrøm and Tortoise into a big pot and made it sound effortless

Joe Goddard: Golden Teacher – Party People

They sound like if Arthur Russell worked in Kingston. I love their grooves and although I never saw them live I imagine it was a joyful, explosive experience.

Fangirl88: Middle Ouest – Bergsonist

I like the entire atmosphere on here, trippy activism, the only way forward, but yea faith game has that longing for hope on a brighter future whilst being deeply felt, the track i wish to hear on a dance floor with too many emotions with tears running down, not sad per se, just connected, if that makes sense to anyone?!

Richard Chater (Numbers/Rubadub): Big Ned – S/T, Golden Teacher

Many years ago, Spawney and I went to see The Bug play live at Optimo (2004, I think). We weren’t exactly sober, and after a wicked, demonic-sounding set, Spawney ended up on the floor shouting: “Optimo, where’s yer fucking techno?!”

After the gig, on the chat boards, Keith asked me who this “Big Ned” was. Months later, we were all back at Dave’s studio in the early hours, mid–drinking session, and Spawney was fully locked in the vocal booth, just going off on the mic. Dave decided to play along.

I’ve no idea what they got up to over the next few months, but the result eventually appeared at Optimo under the name Big Ned. Not only was the music fantastic, but it came from two of my good mates diving deep into their imaginations and coming back with something dark, noisy, and fun: Doom & Roll.

Vito Roccoforte (The Rapture/Mother of Mars): Cease & Resist – Sonic Subversion & Anarcho Punk In The UK 1979-86

One of my all-time favorite compilations—listened to it countless times, and it never grows old. Feels more timely than ever…

Mia Dora – Sub An

Great EP—I’ve played Un.sub countless times over the years. Always a jam.

Fusci EP – Boot & Tax

Another one of my favorite dancefloor EPs from Optimo – Confuzed House is an all-time favorite.

Sam Duke / James Murphy (DFA): Spunky Onions – How I Lost My Virginity

O Yuki Conjugate – Cold Stars

Junto Club – SGC

Phil Kieran – Polyrhythmic

As a label, Optimo Music bottled the same crazed-yet-joyous fervor as one of Keith’s DJ sets, living in that sweet spot between easy pleasure and left-field weirdness. We feel much the same about music, and these records still spin relentlessly at DFA HQ.

Tia Cousins: Zounds – Can’t Cheat Karma

Such a strong song both musically and politically, really makes me wanna dance my ass off. I can’t think of a better song to kick off an Anarcho-punk compilation!

Ally Tropical:  Whilst – Untitled From North Africa

There was a period in which this never left my bag, I used to open nearly every single set with it, usually to a quiet, half empty room. It instantly caught the attention, a perfect blur between styles which intrigues and yet still has that kind of moody deep, slung groove I associate with the early hours of an Optimo party. If you can dance well to this then I take my hat off to you and if you can dance badly to it – well that’s the point.

CC:Disco: GǼG – Anarcho Disco Vol. 2

Absolutely loved this release it’s big nod to us who came from punk/rock/indie scene who still crave those flithy sexy guitar moments on the dancefloor , I always felt seen through with my love of disco/rock in optimos sets and label releases . Optimo 4eva !!!

Teamy: Ghana Glasgow Friendship – Diloeshutubui, Sank Into The Chair

Picking just one track was surprisingly easy: Diloeshutubi is a dreamlike song that felt completely familiar from the first listen yet feels new every time I listen to it. The Ghana Glasgow Friendship album it’s from is such a joyous thing.

I have listened to this compilation probably more than anything else Keith put out in the last 15 years so think I have to nominate that.

Here’s what I wrote on Bandcamp about it:

“The most unsung part of the Optimo weekly club night was the first hour, where the DJs played the weird and wonderful whilst the punters came in and caught up with each other. It was probably this time when the most track IDs were requested too.

I keep looking at my stereo to see the track ID on pretty much every track so this compilation is a pretty good approximation of what the first hour might sound like if the club were magically resurrected. ps: hi Keith!”

The Blessed Madonna: Mia Dora – Sub An

No kidding this is one of my most played records of all time. Un.sub is a MASTERPIECE. If I was in trouble. Anywhere. Anytime. This was it.

Princess P: The Schmutz Sisters – La Folle

This track has been reissued by Keith on his label So Low. The Schmutz Sisters was a Swiss project founded for a performance in my hometown Bern in 1988. I was happy to provide Keith a contact for the licence. Play it loud and dance the Bolero!

Awad: For You Only – Isa Gordon

It sounds like someone smearing steel over a block party, in the most fun way. I fucking love this record.

Cian O Ciobhan: Acid Ultras – All Things Must Pass

I’ve got fond memories at playing this in my first pub gigs after a long period where Covid lockdowns deprived us of the life-affirming joy of dancing in social spaces.  I used to always play this record at nights in a Dublin pub called The Magnet (which, sadly, no longer exists).  The sound quality in the pub’s DJ booth was unreal.  You could really get lost in the music and this one delivered that experience in spades.  It will always remind me of the strange / sweet / surreal sensation of being out playing records again and pinching myself that this was actually happening.

Erol Alkan: Boot & Trax – Acido

Was a huge record for me during 2014 and onwards. A centre piece on my Fabric Mix, I still play this from time to time and it continues to appropriately  turn rooms upside down in considered measures’.

Shit Robot: Kaukolampi – VCS3

GǼG – Merpa

Stuart Frenchbloke McLean: Severed Heads – Greater Reward

For the Optimo Trax Severed Heads release he emailed me to listen to an edit as he wanted it to work melodically and not face the wrath of me*.

“I wonder if you can do me a favour and see how this sounds to your ears before i run it by Tom? The 12″ will have the Racic dubs of Greater Reward, All Saints Day and Big Car on it. but, from a DJ perspective Greater Reward has always had a tricky arrangement in that if mixing it in usually meant missing out the awesome piano at the beginning so I’ve done an edit of it that i also want to include on the 12″.  I haven’t added anything, just changed the arrangement round a bit, which was surprisingly tricky to do. i just wanted a second opinion to check that I haven’t butchered it before I let him hear it, thanks!”

I suggested something which he did perfectly. He still made me buy it though, the sod.

Stevie Cox: Trikk – General System

This was the first Optimo Music release I owned. Because of this release I discovered one of my favourite producers, and that’s exactly what Keith and Jonnie have done for so many of us.

Nadia Ksaiba: Severed Heads – Big Saints Rewards EP

Immense house tracks which I’m sure I would never would have heard without coming via Keith, not only are the tracks pure euphoric dubby bliss but Keiths words on the press release plus his edit of the track demonstrate just how passionate he is about the song.

Bis – Fact 2002 EP 3

Whilst not technically an Optimo Music release, it’s a 2002 release that preceded the label. Glaswegian disco punk band Bis being one of my fave bands from my teenage era, very unique and ahead of their time where bought back into my world via Optimo Singles Club with an EP of Factory Records post punk electro covers. Shack Up sounding immense on the Sub Club Sound and plastic People sound system as I only every heard Keith or myself play it out.

Mr TC: Golden Teacher – Dante And Pilgrim

When I moved to Glasgow Optimo parties were my gateway into club culture. My first few years there I went to see Keith and Jonnie play wherever and whenever I could. This track by Golden Teacher was the first Optimo Music track that I picked up on. I can clearly remember the first time I heard it. It’s just incredible – weird, addictive and undeniably dancy – a perfect example of the energy you feel at Keith and Jonnie’s parties. This record also introduced me to Green Door Studio, which is where I would eventually end up recording the music that would go on to be my first release on the label.

Cio Assereto: Tomorrow The Rain Will Fall Upwards – Ay Carmela

Carmela is one of the most famous spanish Songs from the Spanish Civil War. It had originally been a nineteenth century folk song. Reinterpreted by Tomorrow The Rain Will Fall Upwards from the Album Wreck His Days released on Blackest ever Black in 2016 and now re-issued digitaly on Optimo Music. I remember very well when I bought this Album and it became one of my favourite Records and I would play Ay Carmela lots in my Sets. About 2 Years ago I read this Interview with Keith where he mentioned that he produced this Album and was one his secret side Projects. However I was speechless when I read that and happy to know he created such a Masterpiece of an Album.

Ultimate Freakout is Love: Heavy Bastard EP – The Golden Filter/Morgan Hammer

Something pretty great about this label and its records – there’s a lovely DIY/Made in a Basement/Grotty Flat, covered in spliff ash and splashed with cheap lager vibe to them. Yes.

Rosie Ama: Theus Mago & Curses – Antidoto EP

This whole release is 10/10 but ‘Dafne’ is the track I’ve rinsed the most. Always gets a great reaction. I love this track. No bells and whistles just solid drums and percussion. The drop is especially tasty.

Solitary Dancer – Heroine Dub

I love this track. No bells and whistles just solid drums and percussion. The drop is especially tasty.

Michael Mayer: Sex Judas – Go Down Judas (feat. Ricky)

Only Keith would have had the nerve to introduce Sex Judas to the world. Sex Judas is not necessarily a bad character, but he’s a bit of a shady guy, and I’m an easy target for him. I’ve been playing this album a lot at home and while travelling, and it’s taken me to so many places. The seedy and the divine.

Carin Abdulá: Golden Teacher – Like A Hawk

To me that’s the ultimate Optimo vibe. Something about this track takes me back to my first clubbing experiences in early 2000s Lisbon, a time and place before it even came out… rowdy and groovy is simply a combo you can’t beat.

Superpitcher: Dennis Bovell – Heaven

Heaven always in my pocket!

Wil: Robotiko Rejekto – Rejekto EP

Keith used to play this at pretty much every party we had the joy of doing with Jonnie and Keith over the years. I think it was generally at a point in the evening when I’d lost the ability to string many words together – it happened a lot back then. He’d always patiently tell me what it was, again! He kindly texted me (read probs got bored of me asking) the day after one of those parties to remind me…  I then spent ages trying to track a copy down which wasn’t terribly pressed. When it finally arrived in the post I saw Keith had literally reissued it that day with a great Frenchbloke cover.
US Dub is such a killer record.  Such a Keith record, such an Optimo record! Optimo4ever <3

François LeBang: Vitus – Al Wootton

Vitus is an incredible bongo acid trance style driver , what an amazing track !

Zillasonacid: Making Excuses For You – George T & Johnny Aux

This is everything we wanna hear. Essential!!

Enrique Hernandez: Heaven To Hell – Vanessa Worm

There are two wolves inside you… one is a synth punk track and one is a funky little disco heavy edit and they are making out

Matt Cowell: INIT – Time

This one always scratches that itch for me and it’s perfect for when the smoke thickens. The whole EP is mega.

Royal Male: De Amassade – De Elitetheorie

From Ambassade’s record ‘The Fool’ is, to me, the perfect example of an Optimo track. It’s dark, challenging and progresses with a frenetic air of tension that leaves you buzzing with an uneasy energy. But you absolutely know that if Jonnie and Keith played it in one of their sets the dancefloor would blow up. Keith once said that “dance music is anything people can dance to” and this is a record I feel embodies that to a tee. It’s pounding drums would have you hopping out from behind the sofa and losing yourself slamming the ceiling in the Sub Club in no time.

Lupini:  Larry Chernicoff – Woodstock, New York

It’s actually been difficult to isolate a single release that I’d say captures Optimo the most. As I was scrolling back through the catalogue(s) to refresh my memory, it struck me just how many of the releases I loved. I kept catching myself going “wait this is Optimo too? and this? and this?” The breadth and variety of the releases is sensational, and there’s a lesson in that. Why shouldn’t we love dub and also industrial and also jazz and also muslimgauze and also mediation tapes and also psychedelic punk and also big disco pumpers? Who’s bullshit rule said we’re supposed to be this type of music-lover-club-rat or that type of DJ? Even a stone wall is porous if you look closely enough. Against Fascism Trax is another tiny way to extend that philosophy into how we label people too. To me, Opitmo says; fuck the commercial ease of pigeonholing and the sowing of division! Love it all, and love it all voraciously. In the interests of picking just one I’ve picked this because Whilst Keith’s deep digging is of course clear in the Optimo releases, I think that skill actually comes to the fore best in the compilations and mixtapes. This was the first Optimo release I bought on vinyl – so it holds a particularly special place in my heart – and the whole comp opened my eyes to a truly outsider mode of music. I feel it somehow captures something about the impossibly dualistic questing of Optimo; mapping something fictional, good-timey intellectualism, organic electronics and nostalgic futurism.

Ben Harris: Big Dipper – Return of the Living Acid

It sounds like this Tony Boninsegna chap had no sense of subtlety whatsoever, and I love them for it. All acid music ought to be as wonkily “sellotape n’ glue” sounding as these two tracks.

Dr Zap: Use It Up – Man Power

Massive tunes… sensational release. I was listening to this in the car while parked at Sainsbury’s and the trolley collection geezers were going mental. Clearly a good sign. SOLID!

Jensen Interceptor: Mia Dora – Sub An

If you caught me playing between 2014 and 2018, back when I was still living down under, you almost certainly heard me drop it. The track itself might seem simple, but it’s no easy feat to make something sound stripped back while keeping people engaged for five minutes and having them completely losing their minds. This track does exactly that, and it became my ultimate DJ get out of jail free card whenever I felt I was starting to lose a crowd.

Fergus Clark: Chris Carter – Moonlight (Remixes)

This release from 2011 was my introduction to the label. I actually can’t remember where I bought it from (likely from the Rubadub shop racks, but not certain..). I was 16 when it came out and still living at home and I always associate it with laying on my bed listening late at night in the dark and gazing out that teenage bedroom window and letting my mind wander off. There’s a lot of emotion in it. It also served as my introduction to the much wider Throbbing Gristle universe. Keith getting this totally timeless, quiet album track pressed up on a loud DJ 12” and back out in circulation was a great public service.

Tom Sharkett: Zillas On Acid – Strictly Just at Night

It was really hard to pick just one track that had a big impact on me from the label, but I’ve gone for one by Zillas on Acid, who feel like quintessential Optimo Music artists for me. The ‘Black Cat EP’ is a favorite of mine and ‘Strictly Just at Night’ in particular I had on repeat when it first came out. It perfectly embodies the psychedelic, trippy and dark electronic entrancement I associate with Optimo Music and also Optimo as DJs. It captures the part of the night at the Berkley Suite around 1am where it starts to shift up a gear without you even noticing. The lighting gets darker, everyone’s a bit looser, and you only realise something has changed when that vocal jumps out and then hurls back into the beat, taking the dancefloor with it. The line, ‘I just want to know, do you people dress like this during the day, or is it strictly just at night?’ just makes you feel a part of (and proud to be part of) this weird and wonderful underground world. It also reminds of Keith’s ‘Kreaturen Der Nacht’ comp so a nice bit of synchronicity. I just love it!

Much Love Teamy and Tia for arranging all these beautiful people together in one place.

Big up Gordon aka GKMachine and Julienne aka Fantastic Twins for keeping the OM flame still burning.