Sheffield, ‘Steel City,’ or ‘Sex City’ as Pulp christened it, on the B side of 1992’s ‘Babies’ single, has a long history of forging ahead and creating innovative music, that pushes boundaries in a way that others often end up following. From Cabaret Voltaire to Moloko, Human League to Self Esteem, Reverend and the Makers to Arctic Monkeys, FON to Warp records, Sheffield has long made the kind of music that subverts the mainstream and often changes its course.
Although based across The Pennines, in West Yorkshire, Syd Minsky Sargeant , the lead singer of Working Men’s Club, has become immersed in Sheffield’s music scene after recording both albums in the city; the hometown of their guitarist, Mairead O’Connor.
The Steel City EP reflects the city’s influence on the band by bringing together five of Sheffield’s most innovative producers to remix tracks from the second album, Fear Fear , due on Heavenly Recordings on 15th July 2022. Remixes come from the producers, Toddla T, Charla Green, Ross Orton, Diessa and Forgemasters.
First track on the EP, Money Is Mine, sees producer , Toddla T, set the tune to a full on- klonking two step rhythm. Next, Charla Green turns the album’s title track into a relentless drum ’n’ bass groove built around a single sinister vocal line. She said: ‘It was lovely to work on a remix for Working Men’s Club and put a Jungle twist on it. Sheffield’s music scene has a lot to offer so it’s nice to see alternative scenes working together.’
The next track on the EP sees prolific Sheffield producer and long term collaborator, Ross Orton, turn ‘Ploys’ into a vocoder led electro workout. He said, “Getting asked to remix the mighty WMC felt like a buzz. Here’s my wobbly take on a very heavy “future” Sheffield style classic!.” Next, Diessa brings industrial noise to ‘Rapture’ to create a track that sounds like a symphony being played out at night by automated factory machines.
Finally, on ‘The Last One,’ Forgemasters ,splice a snarling buzzsaw guitar riff and a lo-slung bassline with celestial orchestration. Forgemasters said, “We think this remix has taken the song to another level of spirituality. May the Fonk be with you”
The Steel City EP will be available exclusively through Sheffield’s premiere independent record store Bear Tree with a limited edition of their album Fear Fear which is out July 15th 2022 on Heavenly Recordings.
The Steel City EP features:
1. Money Is Mine – Toddla T Home Sick Remix
2. Fear Fear – Charla Green Remix
3. Ploys – Ross Orton Remix
4. Rapture – Diessa Remix
5. The Last One – Forgemasters Remix
