OK, being that I am writing about this CD here in the US, i want to "introduce" the late, great William MacArthur "Billy" Mackenzie (who passed away January 22nd, 1997) to the US readership. He was a Scottish singer, with a distinctive high tenor voice, best known for being a member of the HIGHLY underrated Associates.

Having worked in the music business since he was 16 years-old, he returned to Scotland and met Alan Rankine. They then formed the Ascorbic Ones in 1976. However, they changed their name to Mental Torture a year later, and then finally to Associates in 1979. Soon after Rankine left the Associates in 1982, but Mackenzie continued to work under the name for several years. Until he began releasing material under his own name in the 1990s.

Which brings us perfectly to this newly-reissued Outernational - Special Edition. Originally released in 1992 (on Circa Records), it contains the two singles taken from the album, 'Baby' and 'Colours Will Come'. The CD also features the ten tracks of the original album release aong with four (4) bonus tracks.

And so this album, that has been digitally remastered for the first time, begins with the title track 'Outernational,' and continues onwards with 'Feels Like The Richtergroove,' 'Opal Krusch,' 'Colours Will Come,' 'Pastime Paradise,' 'Grooveature,' 'Sacrifice And Be Sacrificed,' 'Baby,' and then both 'What Made Me Turn On The Lights' and 'In Windows All.'

The four bonus cuts are 'Colours Will Come - US 60659 Mix' (by Larry Heard), 'Look What You've Done - Marital Mix,' 'Feels Like The Richtergroove - Mike Koglin Mix,' and then, finally; and all too soon, 'Because You Love.'

And, as always most all Cherry Red CD booklets contain some exclusive nice touches. Here it features an expanded version of the original artwork and includes a detailed UK discography and sleeve notes.

CD Purchase Link