10 years of Fundamental - Trevor Horn answers questions from forum members

[Greendrake]

The content of this post has been reserved by the author due to the unprecedented, categorical and peremptory exercise of censorship that took place on 20 May 2021.

Whereas this content can be restored, the author neither intends to do so, nor to publish any further posts to avoid any possible perception as "passive agressive", "pointless", "unhelpful", "homophobic" or "bigoted".

[Drico One]

We don't know definitively. Of course PSB would have contributed to it - at the very least they would approve or disapprove - but we know that the demo was not a Stuart Price production and the album version was a Stuart Price production. I think we can surmise he had at least some impact on what is a bewilderingly good transmogrification of what was an incongruous demo.

Or maybe I'm too generous.

Drico.

[jasonjohn]

Main difference between the demo and album mix is replacing the horns with synth stabs.

That suggestion could have come from anyone.

Beyond that, I'd say the demo well lifted its weight. (as a demo)

(Although I'm glad they abandoned to Nightlife-type disco vibe. We probably have Price to thank for that. I love Nightlight, but they don't need to repeat it

[Patrick Bateman]

Tend to agree with your comments Drico. Listened to the first 15 mins of the show and wondered if Trevor was on the wind up re his links to the boys. Personally I wasn’t sure why on social media was chosen as the lead track on the show, as even though I’m not a big fan of GSaC of the four tracks it feels the most dissonant and thus worthy of critique. I’d prefer TFC above OSM.

Reading again chris’s Excellent interview with Trevor, it does beg the question if Trevor was playing it down to avoid charges of being biased or whether genuinely his memory had faded somewhat.

I remember a long while back when on a similar round table BBC show, they were reviewing Paninaro 1995. They played Girls and Boys instead and got into a tissy whether the boys or the girls should be starting. Guess any airplay these days on the BBC is good for the PSB though. Beggars can’t be choosers.

What struck me about the 6 Music show was Steve Lamacq's sarky comment about the zeitgeist. That's Steve Lamacq who, having been frozen in formaldehyde after a backstage incident at an Elastica gig, still believes that it is 1995. Too young to have experienced Britpop? No matter. Tune into 6 Music every day at 4pm and relive the 'fun'.

[Drico One]

Anyone could come up with any change in the studio. Maybe the cleaner suggested something in passing. However, one reason people employ producers is to create an environment where different ideas and perspectives are possible. Just as we would probably hold a producer accountable (fairly or unfairly) for ruining a demo, I think we have to extend the same courtesy when a demo is radically transformed into something far superior.

In my book, there is just no comparison between the dystopian tension of the Vocal demo and the euphoric freedom of the album track. That's what makes the demo interesting, though - it's a totally different take. I still hate the single mix, mind.

Drico.

[TwizzleUK]

I still hate the single mix, mind

The single mix is the same as the album version. Which version are you thinking of? The radio edit in the video and on the promo CD?

[Drico One]

Yes, the radio edit.

Drico.

[daveid]

I n my opinion both the demo and the Price version stand equally well in their own right. I also think that of all the previously unreleased demos that we heard on the 2017 FLs both Vocal and Radiophonic are head and shoulders above the rest. Little gems.

[Drico One]

I’d argue the Radiophonic demo is superior in some ways to the album version.

Drico.

[Undertaker]

Bright Young Things demo trumps the proper version.

I think the demo of The Loving Kind is better as well. Although both are very good.

Fundamental is their best all round album since Very imo. It still grates me how the album version of Integral wasnt released as the first single. Mental decision.

[daveid]

I’d argue the Radiophonic demo is superior in some ways to the album version.

Drico.

Definitely

[onzio]

Both Bright Young Things demo and Radiophonic demo are better than the studio version. I'd add Sodom and Gomorrah Show, Flamboyant and Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The first one is simply ready for release, the others should have been properly produced following the style of the demo.

IMHO

[TwizzleUK]

Both Bright Young Things demo and Radiophonic demo are better than the studio version. I'd add Sodom and Gomorrah Show, Flamboyant and Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The first one is simply ready for release, the others should have been properly produced following the style of the demo.

IMHO

I prefer the studio versions of all the tracks you mention ('Fundamental' is my favourite PSB album). However, the demo of 'Indefinite Leave To Remain' is a gorgeous alternate take which I'm stunned wasn't included on 'Fundamental' further listening.

[Tom Angel]

Both Bright Young Things demo and Radiophonic demo are better than the studio version. I'd add Sodom and Gomorrah Show, Flamboyant and Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The first one is simply ready for release, the others should have been properly produced following the style of the demo.

IMHO

I prefer the studio versions of all the tracks you mention ('Fundamental' is my favourite PSB album). However, the demo of 'Indefinite Leave To Remain' is a gorgeous alternate take which I'm stunned wasn't included on 'Fundamental' further listening.

I agree- Indefinite leave to remain demo is definitely superior to the album version. It's stronger somehow. Shame they missed it off -

Missed opportunity - which sounds a LOT like a PSB song.

[York Minster]

For All Of Us Demo is miles away better than the C2H version.