Ten train tracks

The following playlist could be extended by Moroder’s “Midnight Express”, The Farm’s “Groovy Train”, Kadoc’s “The Nighttrain” or even Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train”, but this is my selection of ten train-themed tracks, spanning from experimental sounds to italo disco. What I noticed is that mid-1990s new generation Chicago producers were pretty obsessed about railway themes and they are represented with a couple of tracks (thought about adding BMC’s “Loco Motion” too). Feel free to add your suggestions to the comments below.

Chris Watson – El Divisadero (The Telegraph) (Touch)
After a CD album with field recordings made in Mexico, Cabaret Voltaire’s founding member Watson issued a vinyl single with two magnificent ambient pieces.

Unknown Artist – Runaway Train (Ash International)
A creepy real-life recording between the control center and the driver of a doomed train.

DJ Sneak – Runaway Train (Relief Records)
Another interpretation of a popular train theme, this time from DJ Sneak’s early Cajual and Relief years.

DJ Skull – Frate Train (Djax-Up-Beats)
Chicago’s snare drum king doing it for Miss Djax’s label in 1995.

The One You Love – Trans Europe Express (Mute)
Difficult to miss  t h a t  classic Kraftwerk track, this time represented by a cover version from Slovenia.

The KLF – Last Train To Trancentral (1989 Pure Trance Original) (KLF Communications)
A lesser known version of a chart breaker back in the days. Those violins before the explosive drop …

Transportation AAD – Last Train To Lexington (Darkestral Recordings)
Industrial dubstep effort by Boddika and the Darkestral label owner DRKSTR.

F.U.S.E. – Train Trac / Vapourspace Remix (Wax Trax! Records)
Richie Hawtin has been one of main locomotives of electronic music and issued “Train Tracs” in 1993. Vapourspace remix is a winner.

Macho Cat Garage – On A Night Train (Viewlexx)
The guys better known as Legowelt and Orgue Electronique hitting with contagious synth lines as Macho Cat Garage.

Brian Auger – Night Train to Nowhere (Cosmic Club Mastercuts)
1985 italo track by the UK-born artist.