Mint Royale
Unapologetic, simple-minded, and celebratory, Britain's Mint Royale follow the more partied-up Big Beat cues from the likes of Fatboy Slim, Bentley Rhythm Ace, and other Skint acts while moving it towards a more conscious reconciliation of pop tricks. The duo of Neil Claxton and Chris Baker first got started as the Mint Gun Club, releasing just one single, but gained the quickest notoriety by extremely popular remixes of Kenickie's "I Will Fix You" and Terrorvision's "Tequila" (the latter of which reaching number two in the U.K. charts). The hands-in-the-air revelry and mirth-driven breakbeats of these early releases were an early indicator of where the band was headed with their easygoing vibes. It wasn't entirely unfathomable that, along with Scanty Sandwich, many listeners even theorized that Mint Royale was simply another pseudonym for Norman Cook. Regardless, their debut album, On the Ropes, was finally released on Faith & Hope Records in the very Big Beat-hostile nadir of late 1999, propelled by the deliriously catchy, ex-Kenickie Lauren Laverne-starring single, "Don't Falter."
Dean Carlson, All Music Guide
Thanks to Brian Harris for the additional information on this page.
12": Shake Me
[COA76702-1]
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Released 02/01 on City of Angels (USA). Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. Contains a sample from the recording "Come Back and Shake Me" by Clodagh Rodgers (BMG Entertainment). Additional remix and production on track 2 by The Light. The original mix of 'Shake Me' is a very catchy, funky bigbeat type track, sounding very much like Fat Boy Slim in style. This is one of those tunes you end up singing all day long after hearing it. The Light convert this into a pounding deep, electro-progressive trancer. Quality stuff.
CD Single: Shake Me
[ZYX 9256-8]
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Released 1999 on ZYX Music. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. Contains a sample from the recording "Come Back and Shake Me" by Clodagh Rodgers (BMG Entertainment).
CD Single: Take It Easy
[FHCD016]
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CD Single: Don't Falter
[ZYX 9190-8]
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Album: On The Ropes
[FHCD011]
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Released 1999 on Faith and Hope Records. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. An irressistable album, crammed packed with cheeky tunes that brillently bridges the gap between bigbeat and pop. Track 5 (Because I'm Worth It) is instantly recognisable as the theme tune to Jamie Theakston and Zoe Balls UK chat show 'The Priory'.
Album: On The Ropes
[008 112 478-2]
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Released 2001 on MCA. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. For some reason, 'Shake Me' is called 'Kenny's Last Dance' on this CD. Perhaps they ran into a copyright issue with the US release?
Promo CD Single: A Taste Of Mint Royale
[MCAR 25286-2]
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Promo released 2001 on MCA. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton.
CD Single: Show Me (featuring Pos)
[FHCD002]
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Released 2001 on Faith & Hope Records Ltd. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. The Crazy Penis remix of 'Show Me' tries to go urban / commercial, whilst the Plump DJ's rework 'Take it Easy' by making it heavily beat-laden. The original is still probably the best. The single comes with a trading card advertising their video.
CDS: Sexiest Man in Jamaica
[FHCD025]
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Released 2002 on Faith & Hope Records Ltd. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. The best track here is Scanty's Mix which matches, but does not exceed the original in quirky character. Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
CD: Dancehall Places
[FHCD028]
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Released 2002 on Faith & Hope Records Ltd. Another winner from Mint Royale, but not as crazy and wild as their previous long player. Starting at track 4, it begins to slow down in the middle, but picks back up when they repeat 'Show Me' from their earlier album. Some great tracks include 'Anything' and '54'. Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
CDS: Blue Song
[TBC]
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Promo released 2002 on Faith & Hope Records / Illustrious. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
CDS: Blue Song
[FHCD030]
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Released 2002 on Faith & Hope Records / Illustrious. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. Of the two new mixes of this great track from their "Dancehall Places" album, the better is the ATFC remix which cranks up the beats. The Kompis Hotpants Remix is a more creative funk approach. Additionally, on the vinyl release, there is also a Beginerz and Ewan Pearson mix that I haven't heard yet.Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
CDS: Blue Song
[673506 1]
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Released 2002 on Faith & Hope Records / Illustrious. Written and produced by Chris Baker and Neil Claxton. Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
Promo CDS: Mint Royale - Dancehall Places / I Don't Know
[HOOJCD54]
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Released on Faith and Hope/Illustrious. Excellent remixes all around, with the Simian Remix and Sam La More Remix
standing out. Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
Promo CDS: Mint Royale - I Don't Know
[FHCD036P2]
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Released 2003 on Faith and Hope/Illustrious. Written and produced by Baker, Claxton, Jurado. Produced by Mint Royale. Thanks to Brian Harris for this information.
Other Info:
For further information on Mint Royale see the Faith and Hope web site.
