Now Dance ’93 (EMI / Virgin / Polygram, 1993)

Review
After the one-off anomaly that was Now Dance ’92, the compilers revert to a standardised release for NOD 9 which hit the shops during the middle of June 1993. The tagline – 20 buzzin’ beats – and no partial-mixing. Just a dope early summer selection.

We lead with Ace Of Base’s chart-topping All That She Wants, a fusion of pop, reggae and dub. The sign: Louchie Lou and Michie One (Louise Gold and Michelle Charles) were a ragga duo from London, who met at a Rebel MC gig. Shout was a mash-up of the 1964 Lulu hit, originally recorded by The Isley Brothers, with a Henry Mancini composition, the Peter Gunn theme, as performed by The Art of Noise and Duane Eddy. We stay in same groove with Inner Circle’s reggae fusion of Sweat (A La La La La Long) before the primal techno of 2 Unlimited’s Tribal Dance. That’s followed by the piano rave juggernaut of Wind It Up (Rewound). The Prodigy Experience got caned all year round.

Happy house: Cappella’s U Got 2 Know was based on the riff of the Siouxsie and The Banshees track. Meanwhile Utah Saints’ Believe In Me sample the Human League’s Love Action (I Believe In Love), Sylvester’s Do You Wanna Funk? and Crown Heights Affair’s You Gave Me Love. Convert’s Rockin’ To The Rhythm relies on sax breaks while Sub Sub’s Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use) is an expertly constructed slice of driving dance pop that clocks in at 2:45. The unforgettable Melanie Williams playing a big part in ensuring its immortality. And once again, Snow pops up again with the ubiquitous Informer.

Buddy X (What’s Up Mix) saw Neneh Cherry kick out a laidback jam. Gabrielle’s Dreams remains her signature song, a #1 hit for three weeks in June ’93. Exquisite London R&B. It’s followed by the Dina Carroll’s super soul gem Express. Good times with Sister Sledge as a remixed Thinking Of You reaches #17. The 1979 album track and already been a chart hit in 1984 having been included on Now That’s What I Call Music 3. In autumn 1984 they also released new mixes of Lost In Music and We Are Family while 1993 would see all fresh remixes of all three tracks return to the UK charts. Hot on their heels is Sybil’s sweet funk of Whenever I’m Good And Ready that keeps the feet moving.

Lisa B was Lisa Barbuscia, one of Britain’s top models between 1988 and 1993. Glam is almost unknown today, an uptempo handbag track for the catwalk. Inner City are next, a fresh remix of their five year old Good Life setting the floor on fire. Time for Loni Clark and the moody swingbeat of Rushing before East Side Beat’s joyful You’re My Everything. The latter calls to mind the likes of Taveres and The Real Thing. The buzzin’ beats come to an end with Ben Liebrand’s Radio Mix of Paperboy’s Ditty; a West Coast hip hop classic that’s primarily based around a sample of Zapp’s Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing). Divine.

Favourite tracks
Paperboy – Ditty (Ben Liebrand Radio Mix)

Utah Saints – Believe In Me

Sister Sledge – Thinking Of You (Ramp Radio Remix)

Lest we forget
Lisa B – Glam