Singles Discography

Barrel of a Gun

Charts

UK (4) US (47) Germany (3)

Notes

Back from the oblivion were the band. "Barrel" was a critical release for the band as they recover from nearly being known as that band with that one lead singer who almost went out like Kurt Cobain. While it was seemingly harder and noiser than its SOFAD predecessors, BONG 25 was a career saving effort that reminded fans that they were going to survive all that happened to them in the unkind mid-90's. Indeed, as turning points go, "Barrel…" marks a pivotal release for the band like "Strangelove" did in 1987.

Like the flourescent orange Martin Atkins used on BONG 13, Anton used a metallic silver that dominates the artwork for BONG 25. Adding to the metallic silver were the multiple overlays of text in different fonts as they were superimposed on a portrait of the band giving it a grafitti styled, claustrophobic feel. Adding to the claustrophobia, the faces of Mart & Fletch would be blurred as the focused image was a distant, isolated Dave. This song, this release, it's all about Dave, his recovery and redemption from the past that nearly took his life and the band with it. It was as fitting as it was brave of the band not to spin or hide from the tumult they had just recovered from.

Complementing "Barrel…" was its B-Side "Painkiller", a non-album B-side that was a narcotic trip-hop instrumental sidekick further illustrating their ordeals. The headlining mixes were from Underworld. While DM were battling their demons in the mid 90's, Underworld became the godfathers of a new electronic movement. This new movement saw bands like Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Aphex Twin, and Leftfield forge their own electronic paths with their unapologetic use of the latest in synth and sampling technology. When DM returned in 1997, they returned as proven, battle tested elder statesmen who showed the aforementioned artists how it was done.

It goes without saying at this point in the BONG lineage, a remix slot at this point was huge exposure for those who managed to make it. Underworld were the brightest and the biggest at the time. For "Barrel.." however, they would craft two mixes opposite of each other in both feel and appeal: The Underworld Hard and Underworld Soft mixes. The Hard Mix was a repetitive, unimaginative, nine minute borefest which had little semblance of the track it was mixing, a major disapointment for both groups. The Soft mix, however was exactly that, a brilliant string and vox only version with a ride cymbal keeping time layered with subliminal samples that seemed to drip from inside a tunnel. It captured the essence of the track as well as accentuate the best that both DM and Underworld bring to a recording. One Inch Punch contributed two versions of the same mix. The difference being a continuous jungle drum loop over the default hard distorted tracks. Both versions added depth to an already hardened release.

To make the upcoming singles unique from the rest of the backcatalogue, the Ultra singles would reverse their CD artwork. Using standard jewel CD cases, the back sleeve that would normally display tracklisting, credits, UPC barcode, etc. would be placed on the cover of the inner booklet. The normal cover art would use the back sleeve and assume it as its front. This packaging technique was unique to these releases. But with "Barrel…", it was taken one step further with the L12 release for BONG 25. Roles were reversed as "Painkiller" mixes served as the A-Side, making this L12 unique among the rest in the backcatalogue.

The excitement surrounding the release in the US was offset by the botched job Reprise records made of the single's release date. It would have a detrimental effect on the single's chart chances as it only managed to peak at #47. Another injustice would be handed out to BONG 25 later on as it was left off of the "The Best Of, Vol 1". Despite reaching #4 in the UK, the highest a DM single has ever reached as "People Are People" did previously and "Precious" did afterwards, it was curiously left off the compilation, further proving you can't seriously shove DM's best on one disc.

US Releases

	Mute/Reprise 7" Single 17409-7 Barrel of a Gun Painkiller Notes: No picture sleeve.
	Mute/Reprise Cassette Single 17409-4 Barrel of a Gun Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix) Painkiller
	Mute/Reprise 5" CD Single 17409-2 Barrel of a Gun Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix) Painkiller
	Mute/Reprise 12" Single 43828-0 Barrel of a Gun Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix) Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) (v2) Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix)
	Mute/Reprise 5" CD Single 43828-2 Barrel of a Gun (Single Version) Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix)
	Reprise Promo CD Single PRO-CD-8600 Barrel of a Gun (Radio Edit) Barrel of a Gun (Album Version)
	Reprise Advance Promo CD Single No Cat# Barrel of a Gun (Radio Edit) Barrel of a Gun (Album Version)
	Reprise Double Promo 12" PRO-A-8600 Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) Barrel of a Gun (United Mix) Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Instrumental) Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) (v2) Painkiller (Original Mix) Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix) Barrel of a Gun (Original Mix) Notes: Promo double 12" single in a black, stickered sleeve.
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UK Releases

	Mute 12" Single 12 BONG 25 Barrel of a Gun Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix) Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) (v2) Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix)
	Mute Cassette Single C BONG 25 Barrel of a Gun Painkiller Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix)
	Mute 5" CD Single CD BONG 25 Barrel of a Gun Painkiller Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix)
	Mute Limited Edition 12" Single L12 BONG 25 Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) Painkiller Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) Barrel of a Gun (United Mix) Notes: Painkiller is actually the "A-Side" on this L12, the only L12 to feature a B-side in this way. This is also the only L12 released among the four Ultra singles.
	Mute Limited Edition 5" CD Single LCD BONG 25 Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) Barrel of a Gun (United Mix) Painkiller (Plastikman Mix)
	Mute Promo 12" Single P12 BONG 25 Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) Painkiller Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Instrumental) Notes: Promo 12" in custom sleeve.
	Mute Promo 12" Single PL12 BONG 25 Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) Painkiller (Original Mix) Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix) Barrel of a Gun (Original Mix) Notes: Promo 12" in custom sleeve.
	Mute Promo 5" CD Single RCD BONG 25 Barrel of a Gun (Radio Edit) Barrel of a Gun (Album Version)
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