A Treat from Tong

IT'S All Gone Pete Tong double album soundtrack brings together the film's musical highlights.

Based on a true story and winner of Best Feature Film at the Toronto Film Festival and Gen Art Film Festival, It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004) is a comedy following the tragic life of legendary Frankie Wilde.

The film features award-winning British comedian Paul Kaye (a.k.a. Dennis Pennis) and Kate Magowan (24 Hour Party People).

Taking the form of a bio-pic, it takes us through Frankie's life from one of the best deejays alive, through subsequent battles with a hearing disorder, culminating in his mysterious disappearance from the scene.

Set on the party island of Ibiza, the film includes cameo performances from many familiar faces in the film, including Pete Tong (of course), Carl Cox, Sarah Main, Paul Van Dyke and Tiesto.

The first CD in the album, CD1 Day, highlights the more melancholic moments from the film and opens with an exclusive Graham Massey remix of 808 State's seminal hit Pacific State. It is an ambient number that teases the listener with its lazy conga instrumental sound and exotic bird call sampling.

This is closely followed by Cloud Watch by Lol Hammond and Moonlight Sonata by Massey again, both melancholic piano numbers.

Baby Piano by Hammond is the first track with vocals. It retains the mellow atmosphere of the CD, before mixing into Pete Tong and Chris Cox's Ku Da Ta.

The album then takes you on a serene journey through tracks such as the classic 1930s love song Parlez Moi D'Amour by Lucienne Boyer and Goldfrapp's awesome remake of Depeche Mode's Halo.

Even Ferry Corsten appears on the CD with Holding On featuring Shelley Harland, proving that he's diversified from his trance roots and electro phase.

CD 2 Night moves things up a gear, taking you into the clubbing heart of Ibiza with Schwab's DJs In A Row kicking off the party with deep vocals, guitar riffs and groovy beats.

This is followed by Deep Dish's instantly recognisable house anthem Flashdance and amazingly fresh Good 2 Go by Juggernaut, mixed with Christophe Monier and DJ Pascal Representent Impulsion's Rock That House Musiq.

The party vibe continues with Black Rock featuring Debra Andrew's Blue Water. Tong's splendid second track in the album is Serendipity with Steve Mac and features Lingua Franca.

Corsten's popular electro tune Rock Your Body Rock gets a rework from Rennie Pilgrim.

Triscos' Musak (Steve Lawler Remix) is followed closely by the incredibly funky tribal sounds of Filterheadz Yimanya.

The album ends with Tong and Cox's More Intensity before things finally round off with Orbital's Frenetic.

The film is intensely funny and captivating. It has the same propulsive, punk rock vibe as Trainspotting and 24 Hour Party People, with the critics likening it to Spinal Tap for ravers.

But if you can't watch the film, then perhaps the soundtrack is the next best thing.

The music is not just a soundtrack, but a complex emotional language. - NST 16/10/2005