2000 Great Songs #1275: Rewind

Time for me to once again bemoan Big Audio Dynamite never getting the respect they deserve for their innovative blend of 80s indie rock, electropop, and hip-hop. 1989's Megatop Phoenix, the fourth and final album from the original incarnation of Mick Jones' post-Clash outfit, was an interesting culmination of that rapid-fire blast of creativity. Following Tighten Up Vol. 88's pivot to a more pop-oriented sound, Megatop went all-in on the experimental sonic collages and dense electronica. And while my initial inclination was to call out "Contact," a friendlier dance track, there's something about "Rewind" that's always captivated me.

It's much less of a catchy pop song than much of their best work, more a pulsating groove that throbs more than bounces. It seems to be much more the work of DJ Don Letts than Jones--still a memorable hook, to be sure, but it's the loops and effects that make the vibe so magnetic. And a clear illustration of why Letts' departure kept later BAD albums from rising to the same level of innovation as the initial four.

Live 2011 (original line-up reunion):

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