BT – Flaming June

4 Flaming June (Simon Hale's Orchestrata)
Mixed By – John Gallen
Remix – Simon Hale
5:12
is simply stunning and beautiful, nuff said.

This single contains probably the least well-known mixes of this track. The main mix is a massive classic and needs no introduction, although I prefer the full 11 minute mix that I believe is only widely available on Paul Van Dyk's "Perspectives" remix compilation. Lemon D provides a very disappointing drum 'n bass remix. You'd be forgiven for thinking a drum 'n bass remix of a trance record from 1997 would be a lush atmospheric affair, but this is little more than a time-stretched sample of the main melody over a vaguely "dirty" beat.

Much better is the HHC remix. Colin Hudd and Nigel Champion were responsible for some seminal '90s classics, including We're Not Alone, Talisman & Hudson - Leaving Planet Earth and Talismantra - Warmth Reheated, and their remix of Flaming June lives up to that pedigree. They stick within the trance genre but provide quite a different take - less "songy", with the pianos stipped away, and more of an emphasis on a driving bottom end. It's a rare example of a remix of a great track that actually feels worthwhile, and it's the only dancefloor version apart from the original I'd play. Rounding up the package is Simon Hale's Orchestrata version, which will be familiar to most as the hidden track at the end of ESCM. These two versions make this single worth hunting down, and you get a lovely cardboard sleeve for your pennies.

The title 'Flaming June' was inspired by a comment made by a Manchester taxi driver to Brian Transeau about the filthy weather at the time. Hence it is appropriate that Simon Hale - a musician who is no stranger to the Manchester music scene - should provide an orchestral version.

Indeed this orchestral version proves the theory that the very best music is essentially based on simple ideas that can be translated into multiple forms. Unfortunately, this idea of providing orchestral versions never caught on.