System 7 - The Alpha Collection pt1

4 versions of System 7 - Alphawave.

The Plastikman Acid House mix receives most of the attention. However, the original System 7 mixes are themselves excellent.

The track was part of the Point 3 album. This was released as two versions: once, called "Fire" had beats, whilst the other "Water" had ambient versions.

The mix on the Fire album is called "Gliss".

The Hemi-Sync mix of Alpha Wave is possibly the best track on the Water album. It's 13 minutes of soaring guitar with gated electronic sounds. Gliding on Duo Tone curves is the other standout track, and is equally good in Fire and Water versions.

Alpha Wave was released on CD single in 1995. There were 3 versions.
1) Plastikman Acid House mix. This is the epic 20 minute version that most people know. It essentially took some small samples of a bass note and aggressively looped them. Listen at 02:40 in this video and you'll hear the source. After a very long build it finally unleashes acid mayhem. The mix was used by System 7 for their live sets at the time. I saw them in 1996 when Steve Hillage was mixing with a pair of CDJs and playing guitar at the same time.

2) Alpha mix
3) That sound mix

The Alpha, That Sound and Gliss mixes all share the same sounds. The Alpha mix is rather more stripped down whilst the That Sound mix adds some extra guitar for an alternative ambient feel. The Gliss mix is probably the best all round original mix because it contains the ambient elements from Water as well as the beats. It also has some additional sounds that are not present on the Alpha and That Sound mixes.

Alpha Wave was re-released sometime around 2000 and this is the version available on iTunes. There were 3 tracks.
1) Plastikman Acid House Mix
Unchanged from 1995 release.
2) System 7 2000 remix
This is a total retool. It's an amazing harder and faster version that grows for 8 minutes. The recent release Space Bird has a similar feel. Smooth, fast and loads of guitar in the mix.
3) Banandance remix
Another version by System 7, again sounding like a complete remake.

I'm going to put these into part 2. It has crossed my mind that a Plastikman Acid Water mix might sound interesting.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• system
• alpha
• wave
• steve
• hillage
• miquette
• giraudy
• guitar
• effects
• dance
• music
• ambient
• audacity
• mix
• remix
• 1995

[BackUpBorod]

wow, pulles me out of my distraction suddenly. this track is from heaven!

[Te7ee7fe]

so which mix is it now exactly? :)

its amazing :)

[feonixfeather]

the search for the sacred dimension continues, I feel it is close at hand, nik f.

[galinirob]

@cjstonefan I totally agree !... i'm not on broadband and get only few chances to listen via Youtube!! Do you know Astralasia , Afrocelts etc..?

[tranecol]

Fantastic Music!!! What I like most of System 7 is the mix of etreme electronic music and ...guitar, yes, a normal electric guitar.... Not many bands at that time did that, and not even today. Steve's guitar blends perfectly with the soundscape of Miquette. I use to drive from London to Milan in one day, with their music on all the time. The perfect music for travellers....and dreamers....

[cjstonefan]

Amazing sound, why today it is very hard to find something like this one , maybe I'm getting older and I'm not open for a new stuff or maybe nowadays stuff is rubbish and the only way to listen to good music is to via Youtube and focus on music from the past.

Any ideas ???

Anyway great tune and glad to find it.

[pressy321]

Superb. A work of audible art form.  The future is always the next tune in front otherwise we'd all still be listening to Hi Ho Silver lining or line dancing like Ants..... System 7 = Cutting Edge. Thank You guys, You just inspired me again.

[andyjeff62]

I got both Fire and Water mixes when they first came out, both outstanding thanks for posting

[nubient]

the water album is a classic that every ambient dj needs to get

[russbere2112]

One can hear a hint of Green coming out in this track  This is such wonderment...

Beautifully crafted music...

[Faargoottt]

Did the Alpha sing the song "allround?" (it`s going round and around..)

[axma33]

"Gliss Mix",Fire Album-Point 3. ;-)