Tantra

there are many versions floating around, keep looking, you should be able to pick everything up fairly cheap - $1 per track or less

Is there anywhere I can buy Tantra's Hills of Kathmandu on CD or Mp3 download? Please head me in the best direction.
Much respected and appreciated!
Andre

I can confirm the theory of David P that the Hot Tracks Remix of Patrick's "the Hills" was made BEFORE Patrick Cowley wrote his album "Mind Warp".

I know this because I have a recording right from the original Sunshine Acetate. Only a few copies were made of this acetate/laquer; probably by Cowley himself. This Acetate recording (from 1980) is slightly different from the (1985) Hot Tracks Hot Classics 4 recording but it has also exactly the same fancy synthesizer overdubbing from Patrick at about 3/4 of the production. There are (mainly) 3 slight differences: the length is (only) 12.31 m, the beginning fades in and the end fades out with some synths that are not to be heard on any vinyl release...

By the way: Unidics also released the 14.00 Hot Tracks Hot Classics 4 version but than on a BLACK label. Because Unidisc only released earlyer released version of remixes of Cowley (think of the Razormaid remix Of Joseph Watt which Unidisc released one year later) mu guess is that Unidisc also released this 14.00m version AFTER Hot Tracks did...

Really love this band. I own 3 of their 12inch Great great great records i love them found the double remix new on a fleamarket last month!

I was able the buy "The Double Album"(in good conditon) at a flea market in early 1983 for a couple of dollars. I cannot understand why this has not been reissued on cd.

I have got the Tantra Hills of Katmandu on a nightclub tape back from the '80s. Only just found how it was just the other day Listening to a hi energy mix on youtube it was on the mix I left a comment asking what was the track was he got back 2 me & told me diffrent 12s off the track can all so be found on youtube.

I'd like to add that on the Unidisc single, the "Patrick Cowley Remix" does not have any of the fancy synthesizer overdubbing included on the "Hot Classics" version. It is simply a re-edited version of the original track with some processing thrown in. It's almost as though Unidisc got a hold of the basic tape that Cowley edited, BEFORE he was able to add his keyboards to the track.

I wonder if, since "Hills" was released before "Mind Warp", perhaps Patrick did his remix before writing "Mind Warp" and decided to incorporate his "Katmandu" riffing into his own original song...not knowing that his personal remix of "Hills Of Katmandu" would ever see the light of day?

I don't know that I'd call the originals of either "Hills of Katmandu" or "I Feel Love" better, maybe just different. There is definitely a more subtle, less cluttered sound to both. Whatever your opinion, though, they are both fascinating insights into what one DJ I knew felt was Patrick Cowley playing around in the studio. Especially the "Hills" remix: its not clear if he remixed it for a label, or just for himslef, and it was release after his demise if I recall correctly. We thought it may have been found in his belongings and subsequently released. And yes Doctor D, I had noticed the "Mind Warp" riff, but I'd forgotten until you mentioned it.

The Original mix is 16:21
Patrick Cowley mix is 13:27
Hot Tracks promo mix is 14:00

I was lucky enough to get the first two on CD through Unidisc before they
stopped production. And the hot tracks mix is in a promo set called
"The hot classics boxset" that had a limited Promo release a few years back.

If you can find the Unidisc cd SP5-1229
It has the Full Original and Patrick Cowley Remix on the one CD.

The Cowley remix is just more percussion and early computer sounds similar to what he did to "I Feel Love" (the Original is still the best on both). The Hot Tracks mix removes most of the slower breezy bridges and stays to a faster dance feel.

Hi Kelly, the CD edition of Tantra's "The Double Album" is currently being actioned by seller "papayons", you could ask him trough the ebay system. I've seen this item being sold at astronomical prices. But there are also a number of vinyl copies for a reasonable amount.

One more tip: Just last year famous british DJ Danny Howells included Katmandu on his house-electronica session for the very much respected Global Underground series (Danny Howells Miami #27). The way Katmandu matches with contemporary electronica is a demonstration of the futuristic original approach of the song. And Howells set is fantastic itself.

As Spanish as a mother language speaker I can say I don't like the words in "Las Colinas de Katmandu", but I agree with Freddy it is a good edit of the original track.

Telmo Almada is correct. A DJ who wants to win over a tripped-out floor of 35-40 year olds would do well to hunt high and low for a copy of "Las Colinas de Katmandu." It doesn't run the length of the orgininal, but it gets the multi-culti point across!

Is the CD you've seen on eBay an original or a bootleg?

Just wanted to add Tantra released a very rare Spanish version of Hills Of Katmandu. it was on a 12" record with a green, instead of orange, cover.

Recently, electronica and electroclash remixer Keith Tenniswood used the robotic synthesized bass of Hills On Katmandu for his remix of "We're Only Science", by artist Dot Allison. The trick is his sample of Katmandu is played so slow that is almost imposible to identify...

Katmandu is among my personal Top Five of all times. A very rare edition on CD of The Double Album can be found sometimes on eBay.

I want to add some coments about Tantra´s "Hills of katmandu" remix version: Yes, it is shorter, maybe because the remixer or/and editor (Which I think it was Patrick Cowley. Not shure because there are not credits in the vinyl sleeve or label) decided to edit all the soft lirical vocals to make it more high energy version. This remix last 14:00 minutes and its a frenzy trip into cowley´s synt-mind!, Just like "I feel love" remix made by patrick cowkey.
Another thing: Has anyone noticed that in this remix, the last quarter or so, has the same syntetyser part and structure as "Mind Warp" of Patrick Cowley?

Brilliant, and I've heard "Hills" on the hard-charging gay party cricuit as recently as New York's 2004 Black Party (Courtesy of DJs Paulo and Susan Morabito). Until "Hills" turns up again in all its druggy splendor, along with the inscrutable "Wishbone," don't overlook those other cuts Bernie briefly refers to.

The "Mother Africa" suite, which includes "Hallelujah," is a stunnner. "Get Redy to Go" combines redeems an ordinary (but very competent) vocal arrangement with a vicious breakdown. The instruments are so richly arranged so that they sound like they're in your ear; were they arranged under the microphone, or was this album recorded on old vacuum tubes? You'll wonder after hearing the vinyl...and to my knowledge, Tantra's "The Double Album" hasn't been released on CD to this day.

The Patrick Cowley remix of Hills of Katmandu wasn't shorter (that I recall) just different, heavy on the cowbell percussion (of course)... One song with 3 distinct parts (if you wre lucky enough to hear this from biginning to end)... It shifted from electro-euro-disco to lyrical Voyage-like disco and back again.. .the same producers show up again on "Midnight Radio" by Taffy about '86...

COOL when it came out.

I have very fond memories of this Tantra album and the songs it generated throughout the New York City clubs I used to visit.
When it debuted at the Anvil and 12 West I was in Heaven and Hell at the same time.

I agree with François. Hallelujah was the biggest hit at the club where I DJ'd in Salt Lake City.

I would like to add "Hallelujah!" as another Tantra tracks that was a club hit, at least here in North Carolina! It took me 16 years to find this record, not realizing that it was an album track!