Spiritual Ideas for Virtual Reality is a 10-minute-plus track taken from Marcel “Hole In One” Hol’s 1996 CD-only album, Tales From The Planet Onhcet II. Andrew Weatherall used the tune to open his much-loved ambient / trance set, Slow Electric Volume 1, which since the DJ’s passing has become more widely know as “The Massive Mellow Mix”. Berlin label, Transmigration, have now pressed the piece to vinyl, and also commissioned a couple of remixes from Anatolian Weapons. The original is one of those tunes where not much seems to happen, but that somehow manages to stay with you long after it’s over. It’s all sort of tasteful for the first 7 minutes. Trickling tones wash in and out, on a slow synthetic tide. There’s a peppering of percussion and a bubbling b-line. A short burst of children chanting. However, following a brief breakdown, while building back up, those chants are treated and played like another instrument. It’s this second half that makes the piece standout, and far from ordinary. The first of the remixes, named in honour of Weatherall, respectfully fixes the chiming, fluttering frequencies to a gentle beat, while saving the near subliminal melody. The effect, more immediately uplifting and joyful. The second is a radical mid-tempo techno reimagining. Before I heard it, I was doubtful, but, believe me, this works. By taking the banging up just a notch, and expertly deploying the tumbling timbales, plus the odd ethereal exclamation, he’s created a quality cut of ALFOS-inspired “drug chug”. 

Hole In One’s Spiritual Ideas for Virtual Reality is out now, on Transmigration.