Ben Shenton and Dean Meredith AKA Mind Fair throw their last Rotation party of the year on October 26th at Oddfellows Hall. Marking the event with a limited run of sweats, manufactured  in collaboration with Everpress. 

I first interviewed Dean back in February 2013. Since then he and Ben have very kindly, regularly contributed to Ban Ban Ton Ton – supplying mixes and lists of recently discovered and current favourite tunes. In return I’ve provided them with the odd (very odd?) press release. 

Since there`s no headline guest this time out, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to big up the boys themselves, and run down a personal top ten of Mind Fair moments, related projects, and hits from their Rogue Cat Sounds imprint. 

Tao / Eenie Meenie (Mark Seven XTC Excursion)

The original of this is cute Swedish Pop from 1984 that Kenneth Bager gave to Phil Mison who then played it at a Rotation party. Rogue Cat reissued it for Record Store Day in 2018, calling in Stockholm-based Mark Seven to remix it. 

“Eeniemeeniemacaracaairidominacchukabacalolliopuhunpush.”

Quiet Force / Listen To The Music (For Love And Emotions)

German duo Quiet Force were signed to Klaus Schulze`s Innovative Communications in the late 1980s. Listen To The Music channels both Art Of Noise and label mates Dancing Fantasy. Another reissue from Rogue Cat, this is due in shops any minute now – with remixes from Apiento & Tepper, and Justin Strauss & Max Pask. 

Flamingo Flame / Simmer

Choir boy vocal-led indie-dance that echoes both Frazier Chorus and Tyrell Corporation. Coming down after a night spent on cloud eight. 

OPM / In And Out Of Love

Released in 1983 on tiny British imprint, RAM Records, and resurrected by Thomas Bullock in a 2012 Just Jam masterclass. Sleazy electro funk that was another Rogue Cat RSD reissue. 

Parkway Rhythm / The Answer (T Cut Dub)

Using their T Cut alias Ben and Dean do a Larry Levan on Mark Seven. 

Location 141 / Hurt Me Bad

Recorded as a tribute to Erasmo Rivera – the blade behind the edits of both Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy. This testifies like James Brown and dances somewhere between Armando and Bobby O.  . 

Central Executives / Loveray 79

Revisiting the classic disco-not-disco of NYC`s Loft and Mud Club – and then filtering that through Moodyman`s sophisticated Detroit groove. 

Charm / With You

“Warehouse Party Street Soul” is what I said at the time. 

I`d still describe it as Atmosfear meets Colourbox.

Mind Fair / Sundown Drive (Rhythm Odyssey)

When they sent this over the guys labeled it “jazz hands”. To me it sounds like Mind Fair channeling their inner Joe Claussell. 

Mind Fair / Steppin` Out

Fusing the cool lyric of Joe Jackson`s 1982 AOR hit to a Notting Hill Carnival, Electro Soca Rhythm. The instrumentation recalling Detroit Experiment`s update of Donald Byrd`s Think Twice. The song brilliantly capturing the need to sometimes just get the fuck out and dance your blues away. 

I segued them all together here…..

Mind Fair`s last Rotation party of 2019 takes place at Oddfellows Hall on October 26th between 5 and 12PM. DJs from dusk through til the witching hour will be Rob J, Dean Meredith, Stuart Robinson, and Ben Shenton. You can purchase tickets here. 

You can pick up one of those limited Rotation Sound System sweatshirts here.