In 1992 the party was looking like it was over- bad drugs, too much partying, gangs, darker scenes, burnout. For Flowered Up, a group who were powered by chemicals and boisterous bad behaviour, a chance to rescue themselves by writing some songs presented itself just as tensions were boiling up. Instead of writing a bunch of songs though they came up with just one, one very long song- Weekender, a thirteen minute journey through the early 90s, a criticism of those who only go for it on Friday and Saturday nights, a celebration of highs and a depiction of lows, and a tribute to Jimmy from Quadrophenia. London Records refused to give it a full release so the band returned to Heavenly and it subsequently reached number 20 in the charts. The film that was made by Wiz to accompany it, starring Eastender Lee Whitlock and Bocca Junior's singer Anna Haigh, stretched it out further to 18 minutes.
Weekender
'Whatever you're doing, make sure what you're doing makes you happy' said Liam Maher in Weekender. Flowered up broke up within two years, fractured by drugs, bad communication and personnel changes, people losing interest, the money running out, some issues at gigs (including arriving on stage at the original Madstock in 1992 45 minutes late). It is still, all these years later, a startling, original and essential piece of music.
The 12" release was partnered with a second single, Weatherall's Weekender, not one but two remixes by Andrew (keyboard player Tim had joined FU due to his connections with Weatherall from Windsor in the late 80s). Both remixes stretch the original track further, the A-side remix to a quarter of an hour and the B-side to seventeen minutes plus. Both bend the song into newer shapes with the female backing vox pushed up front, wobbly basslines, time and pitch shifting synths and keyboards and dub FX, the second one especially aimed at the floor with pounding percussion and drums under a descending piano riff.
Weekender (Audrey is A Little Bit Partial)
Weekender (Audrey Is A Little Bit More Partial)
Tune!
ReplyDeleteOne day somebody will make a film about Flowered Up, which will seem so far-fetched that few will believe that it's actually based on a true story. A very talented band with massive potential, who individually spiralled out of control and in two cases came to a tragic end. Thanks for putting all these mixes up together SA.
ReplyDeleteTwo remixes by who...?
ReplyDelete