Clubbers, DJs and producers remember Back To Basics as a club night in the history of house music. Still going strong (33 years and counting), the Leeds institution has been helmed by Dave Beer right from the start. Basics apparently gave UK debuts to US DJs such as Doc Martin, Derrick Carter and Francois K, and early opportunities to the likes of Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx and Groove Armada.
What many people haven’t realised is that Dave later became a DJ and a surrealist painter and has dabbled in producing music himself over the years — without ever releasing anything into the outside world. Until now.
2025 will see Dave release his debut album, preceded by a number of singles. First up comes ‘For The Beloved’, which features some soulful vocals from Chicago’s Robert Owens, recorded when he stayed over in Leeds.
When Dave reached out to US house DJ/producer, Todd Terry, for a remix, the New Yorker was only too happy to oblige as Dave had given Todd various important gigs back in the day.
Todd possibly singlehandedly invented hip-house when he brought hip-hop influences into house, such as on ‘I’ll House You’ with the Jungle Brothers. Early house cuts like ‘Can You Party’, ‘Jumpin’’ and his remix of Everything But The Girl’s ‘Missing’ are some of the classic tracks of the genre, and Todd is still always hungry for more.
Todd was so taken with the track that he delivered three remixes. The ‘B2B Mix’ makes use of some spirituals at the start, some tough Todd beats and a bassline driving it forwards. By the time Owens’ soulful voice comes in, it’s in its groove.
The Todd Terry remix wastes no time getting to the point, foregrounding Robert’s vocals early on before elevating it to a higher plain. The Tee’s Freeze mix, meanwhile, is more for late-night dancefloors.
“Life’s for the living / So don’t have regrets” is a phrase that could sum up Dave Beer’s raison d’être, and has taken on renewed poignancy given recent events in his life.
In the middle of 2024, Dave was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, it transpired that it was treatable. As the cancer was cut out during an operation in early November, Dave had to be taken to intensive care to have a blood transfusion, but he rallied.
Dave Beer: "When I first brought Todd Terry to play Back to Basics over 30 years ago. I would never have imagined working with him musically. I’ve been a fan ever since I first heard a track called ‘Just Make That Move’ by Black Riot on West End Records, which is still one of my favourite tracks of all time. So I’m so honoured to have Todd remix my tune I made with Robert Owens.”
© justaweemusicblog.com
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