The Moody Boys

The Moody Boys / Moody Boyz
Origin	UK
Genres	House, techno, drum and bass, dubstep
Years active	since 1988
Labels	XL Recordings, Guerilla, SSR.
Website	www.themoodyboyz.com
Members	Tony Thorpe
Past members	Jimmy Cauty

The Moody Boys (and later, Moody Boyz) was a UK house music production and remix outfit active since 1988, consisting of Tony Thorpe and, until 1992, Jimmy Cauty.

History

Beginning in 1988 with the single "Acid Rappin'", Tony Thorpe and The KLF co-founder Jimmy Cauty produced dance music that incorporated elements of techno, dub, acid house, hip hop, drum and bass and African music. Their 1991 single "Funky Zulu" is considered a house classic.^[1] The Moody Boys' original releases were complemented by duties as the authorised remixers of The KLF's highly-charting singles "3 a.m. Eternal", "What Time Is Love?" and "Last Train to Trancentral". In each case, The Moody Boys' mixes were released on separate 12"s to the charting singles.

Cauty's contributions to The Moody Boys ended upon The KLF's 1992 retirement, but Thorpe continued under the revised "Moody Boyz" moniker until 1994, producing in this time what is considered to be the Moody name's best work, including another "classic",^[1] "Destination Africa", and the album, Product of the Environment. An early example of a remix album, released as a double EP, Recycled for the Environment was also released to acclaim in 1994, featuring contributions from many remixers, including Andrew Weatherall and Dave Hedger.

Reviews

Allmusic awarded Product of the Environment 4 stars (out of 5), dubbing the album "a visionary collection of subtly innovative techno and tribal house, with heaps of African and Caribbean influences".^[2] In awarding Recycled for the Environment 4 stars (again, out of 5), Allmusic said, "styles range from lush tribal techno to murky ambient and spacy electro, each offering an inspired extrapolation of Thorpe's originals.".^[3]

Selected discography

Singles

	Acid Rappin' Artist: The Moody Boys Year: 1988 Catalogue Number: City Beat CBE 1230
	Funky Zulu (You're So Fresh) Artist: The Moody Boys Year: 1990 Catalogue Number: XL Recordings XLT 011
	Journey into Dubland Artist: The Moody Boys Year: 1990 Catalogue Number: XL Recordings XLEP 107 Remixes by The KLF, including a "Kings of Low Frequency dub version"
	What Is Dub? Artist: The Moody Boys introduce Screamer Year: 1991 Catalogue Number: Love Records EVOLX 03
	Recycled EP Artist: Moody Boyz Year: 1994 Catalogue Number: Prime PRIME 028 Featuring "Destination Africa"

Albums

	Product of the Environment Artist: Moody Boyz Year: 1994 Catalogue Number: Guerilla GR 013
	Recycled for the Environment Artist: Moody Boyz Year: 1994 Catalogue Number: SSR SSR140

Remixes

	What Time Is Love? (Remodelled & Remixed) Artist: The KLF Year: 1990 Catalogue Number: KLF Communications KLF 004Y Featuring "What Time Is Love? (The Moody Boys vs The KLF)"
	3 a.m. Eternal Artist: The KLF Present The Moody Boys Year: 1991 Catalogue Number: KLF Communications KLF 005Y
	Last Train to Trancentral Artist: The KLF Meets The Moody Boys Uptown Year: 1991 Catalogue Number: KLF Communications KLF 008Y
	The Right Decision Artist: Jesus Jones Year: 1993 Catalogue Number: Food 12 PERV P2 Featuring "The Right Decision (Moody Reconstruction Mix)"

External links

• Official site
• The Moody Boys/Moody Boyz discography

Notes and references

1. Cooper, S., "Moody Boyz Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 22 April 2006.
2. Cooper, S., Product of the Environment review, Allmusic. Retrieved 22 April 2006.
3. Cooper, S., Recycled for the Environment review, Allmusic. Retrieved 22 April 2006.