Electronic super-group Late Night Versions consisting of veteran DJ Andy Nicholls, Steve Smith from Dirty Vegas fame and now a current member of seminal rock band Squeeze and John Jacobs, a founding member of legendary Oi! band The 4-Skins, are pleased to share a free download track ‘Last Night’ taken from their eponymous debut EP out now and follows on from the Balearic influenced debut single ‘Children of the Stratosphere’.
They detail the track: “We wanted this track to reflect on our dance floor roots with the straight beat and pulsing synth parts. We wanted indie dance meets punk, scrappy meets smooth, for dark rooms”.
The hazy clubland that defined London and Ibiza in those wild, hedonistic days of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Here you would find a pioneering young DJ, Andy Nicholls, who sees his reputation for carefully curated sets gain him regular slots at such legendary clubs as Shoom and Promised Land. Inspired by the rush of energy released in that Second Summer of Love and keeping the Balearic spirit close to his heart, Nicholls sets out to explore new soundscapes, where the euphoric synthesizers and programmed of Italian house merge with the art-rock recordings of the Talking Heads, The Woodentops and local heroes Thrashing Doves.
Continuing his journey through the late-night streets of London and the dawn beaches of Ibiza, Nicholls engages with other converts, like-minded fellow-travellers such as multi-instrumentalist and song-writer Steve Smith (who would go onto form Grammy awarding winning electronic artists, Dirty Vegas, and latterly join legends Squeeze as a full-time member) and drummer John Jacobs (of foundational Oi band, The 4skins). It soon became apparent that all three had seen the same light breaking over the Balearic network. They talked passionately about the clubs, the music and how they all burnt with the want to make something for the scene. And – within the blink of a strobe – Higher Ground was formed.
With all three already embedded in the scene, the scene was quick to embrace and Higher Ground’s tight musicianship and laid back, italo-house grooves – strengthened by their dynamic live shows – saw them gain a strong following in next to no time.
Live sets at club nights such as Philip Salon’s notorious Mudd Club and supports for bands like Natural Life soon followed. From dancing to Ibiza Godfather Alfredo’s sets and raising their hands to Farley Jackmaster Funk’s records they soon found themselves sharing stages with them in England and Spain.
Further success followed but as the initial trio grew into a full septet and their sound blossomed, unseen pressures came to bear: Like many of the e-generation the band crashed and burned in the mid-nineties, members wandering off to pursue other projects.
Now, 25 years after their vision of a Higher Ground dissolved all seven players from the original band have reformed under the name Late Night Versions. Armed with a forthcoming EP produced by the esteemed Anthony Saffery (Portugal the Man, Madame Ghandi, Cornershop) and a knapsack of unique musical experiences to guide them, Nicholls, Smith and Jacobs are set on scaling Balearic peaks once more.
Listen and download ‘Last Night’ – BELOW:
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