GUEST SPOT # 12 - Des'ree - 'Mind Adventures'

She's funny, she drinks gallons of water, she's too cool for school and she's great! It's Kate y'all!

Des'ree - 'Mind Adventures' (1992)

Now you may have to bear with me here ...... I know that Des'ree is mostly known for the bland cobblers she produced in the mid 90s which was used to sell cars, sofas and probably piles cream for all I know. However, long before the gravy train rolled into town she produced an album which still numbers amongst my absolute favourites (ever.)

It is September 1991 and I have just arrived at my university halls in Sheffield. I don't know it yet but my time in Sheffield will be pretty pivotal for me. I will meet my husband, the friends I will take with me through life (whether they want to come or not) & I will work out what I want to do with my life. All this is not bad for 4 years ostensibly spent arsing about in pubs. I have a fairly crappy tape recorder with a propensity for eating all tapes that go anywhere near it & this tendency to shred music means I am running out of stuff to listen to. I give up on the tape player in favour of my less violent Walkman (Hah! Walkman - When's the last time you saw one of those?!) and start borrowing tapes from my neighbours. One of these tapes turns out to be "Mind Adventures" by Des'ree.

"one too many mind adventures"

Ideally you need some sun & warmth for this song, which meant that throughout my time in Sheffield it got an airing for about 36hours every June and then put back into safe-keeping ready for the next summer. Something about it has laid-back summery vibes all over it. I don't know whether it's her voice, the bass-line ....... No idea but it works and it's lush.

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