I’m not 100% sure on the order these TTF tracks were released because there were white labels going around, pirate stations playing tracks and I think there may have been some limited releases on Clubscene first before the tracks were licensed and available more widely.
My guess and please correct me if I’m wrong, is that ‘Real Love’ was released first and would have been Clubscene CSRT002 and ‘New Emotion’ which was actually the lead track on ‘The Time Frequency EP’ would have been Clubscene CSRT007.
The actual tracks you have would depend on what you got your hands on and when. For example, there’s a 12″ vinyl on Discogs which has a track listing of ‘New Emotion’ and ‘U41A’ on one side and then ‘New Emotion Techno Mix’ and ‘Higher Than Heaven’ on the other side.
There’s a CD single which doesn’t have the Techno Mix but does include ‘Retribution 93 The Prodigy Meets TTF’. After bubbling away for quite a few weeks, ‘New Emotion’ would enjoy a new lease of life in early 1993 with cassette single and 7″ formats and increasing radio airplay. It eventually spent 6 weeks in the Official UK Charts, peaking at No.36. This caused a sensation at the time because it was the first time a recognised Scottish ‘rave’ track had cracked the Top 40. The Shamen of course had Scottish members and chart success but weren’t quite considered part of the same scene and didn’t have the same presence in Scotland.
The Telstar/BMG compilation album ‘Hits 93 Volume 1’ also included ‘New Emotion’ in the early months of 1993. This was a hugely successful compilation release, hitting No.1, selling very large numbers and ensuring a wide audience got to hear TTF at their best. The success of ‘New Emotion’ ultimately led to ‘Real Love’ receiving a re-release in November 1993 where it climbed all the way to No.8 in the Official UK Charts and the band appeared on Top of the Pops.
There have been times where I’ve maybe slightly preferred ‘New Emotion’ over ‘Real Love’. It might have a little more of an edge. And the ‘Techno Mix’ which starts with the famous ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rumble’ sample is excellent. In any event, these are 2 cracking tracks. ‘Higher Than Heaven’ has always been a real favourite too.
Alongside Jon Campbell, Paul Inglis and Kyle Ramsay are listed as the accompanying members of TTF on the ‘Real Love’ release, and the EP featuring ‘New Emotion’ is the first time we see Steven Nelson credited on a TTF release. He’s listed as ‘Executive Computer Programmer’.
I’m wary of singling out individuals on this page but Andy Haldane is certainly worthy of a mention for the work he did on both these tracks. He’s named as ‘Executive Consultant’ on ‘The Time Frequency EP’ and the ‘Real Love’ credits state ‘Engineered and Mixed by Andy Haldane’, and ‘Mixed at Apollo Studios’, Glasgow. By the time ‘New Emotion’ comes along the credits include ‘Recorded at TTF Laboratories, Glasgow’, which would become a familiar statement on all TTF releases going forward. Andy spoke a little about his work with early TTF when he appeared on Mallorca Lee’s XL Podcast.
These songs benefit hugely from Mary Kiani’s vocals which, I have to say, are pretty much untouchable. No-one else can sing like Mary and she gives both these songs a real ‘diva’ appeal which lifts them even higher. I think songs take on an extra dimension when all the elements come together and you really believe what you’re hearing. When these songs come on, I really believe Mary means every word and you get a feel from the production that the band seriously mean business. TTF had a nice recognisable accapella intro to the full versions of these songs. The first thing you heard was Mary Kiani belting out the main hook of the tracks. I think that speaks volumes about her talent.
Regardless of what might happen next and the various rivalries / media stirring up division etc, these 2 releases are of huge importance when we’re discussing the history of the Scottish dance music and the rave scene and they played a critical role in the Clubscene Records journey, which we’re following here.
In the next post we’ll go into 1993. A busy year for the label with the release of an album, and a smash hit VHS release!