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Influences: Paranoid London

 
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Paranoid London's sound has been built on the foundations of classic house music, but it's distinguished by its off-kilter qualities, namely their love of crisp acid lines, funky grooves and gurgling bass.

But their productions are made all the more unique and recognisable by the wealth of guest vocalists, both returning and fresh, that they invite to grace their tracks. Most notably Mutado Pintado, Josh Caffe, Alan Vega and Arthur Baker have brought their strong, direct and sassy lyrics to the table over the years, but on their newest album 'PL' you'll also hear the late Bubbles Bubblesynski and A Certain Ratio's Simon Topping putting their stamp on Paranoid London's acid driven creations.

Ahead of the release of the album on their own Paranoid London Records, they divulge the artists and tracks that have been pivotal on their musical path…

Follow Paranoid London. Buy PL HERE. Photo credit: Kate Green.

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Glenn Underground - Space Square Dance [Relief Records]

Mr GU doing what he does best, making noise. Probably the most influential house record label of the 90s. Sorted the men from the boys. This record just doesn’t give up, keeps on going, adding noise, as it cracks along to its own tune. Every house record should sound like this. Most excellent.

  • Glenn Underground - Space Square Dance [Relief Records]

    Mr GU doing what he does best, making noise. Probably the most influential house record label of the 90s. Sorted the men from the boys. This record just doesn’t give up, keeps on going, adding noise, as it cracks along to its own tune. Every house record should sound like this. Most excellent.

  • Gemini - If You Got To Believe In Something

    The man himself Gemini. Moody and uplifting at the same time. Lose yourself in the drums or bassline, then that sweet vocal runs all the way through it. Vocal house at its best.

  • A Certain Ratio - All Night Party (1979)

    Dark record that takes you somewhere you don’t want to go but seems to give way to light at the end of the tunnel. Amazing vocals by S.T. This is how you make a record rattle along without one drum being hit. Genius.

  • Original Big Apple Production Volume 2 Medley

    Huge record among the kids with decks in my town when it came out. Amazing mixes, great sounds for scratching and top breaks. There were loads like this: Feelin James, Mr K mIx, Fusion Beats, The Lessons, London Beats, Say Kids What Time Is it. They would often have “For DJ use only” printed on the label which made you feel even more smug when you got a copy.

  • Peech Boys - Life Is Something Special (Special Edition)

    One of the most influential disco bands that gave us the mother of all bass lines. From the man himself Micheal DeBenedictus. The man just had the funk. Rolling bass line, sweet vocal, nothing more nothing less. Class.

  • Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - Pump Me Up (Official Video)

    Still one of the best looking bands ever (no idea why Flash is credited – he wasn’t in this iteration). From a time when it was rare to see this sort of music on telly. Bass line on this is huge. I had two copies of the picture disc… cos I was like that.

  • Gino Soccio - Dancer (Warner Bros Records 1979)

    I bloody loved this record. From the time I used to want to be a backing singer cos I thought they were the coolest. Hours spent in my bedroom miming to this while doing the ‘backing singer dance’.

  • Hard Rock Soul Movement, Double Def Fresh.

    British Electro/Hip Hop. Max LX & Dave VJ did some killers but this is my favourite. 808 drum machine, ridiculous bass line and super fresh scratching. Still blows my mind that there were British Producers making music this futuristic at that time and we just took it for granted. Also remember them wearing leather suits when they were on the telly.