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Singles Discography

Useless

Charts

UK (28) Germany (16)

Notes

UselessAs the remixes for "Home" were experimental, the ones for "Useless" were fundamental and at the very least, faithful to the original recording. The majority of the mixes seemed to build from the signature Doug Wimbish bassline upwards. The expectations were high and the majority of the mixes rose up to exceed them. Alan Moulder was back to bring in a single remix that would be featured on both releases and video. Mute labelmate Mr. Barry Adamson turned the track into its own epic film score with his Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 and 2. Downtempo practioners Kruder + Dorfmeister bring their brand of voodoo to the session that bears their namesakes. Using the last note from "Policy of Truth", their accomplishment would be featured in a Victoria's Secret commercial, as well as secure a spot in the 2004 "Remixes 81-04" campaign. CJ Bolland brought his own techno elements and reprogrammed bassline to the Ultrasonar mix and the dub Funky Sub. Cosmic Blues brought it like nobody else had with their mix that was reminiscent of those previously offered by Johnny Dollar & Portishead in the previous campaign. The bassline was amplified and supercharged as the melody and beats were relentless. The WTF award has to go to Carl Craig. The Detroit-based techno pioneer turned Useless into something unrecognizable in his Air 20 mix. The beats were somewhat jungle but it all came off as a very disjointed mix that may as well have been "Useless" in name only save for a few lines of vocals. Maybe it was meant to be ironic? A Useless mix on a Useless 12"? It's possible. It was vinyl only until it was included in the Singles Box 6 and its subsequent CD reissue.

Even more ironic was the video Anton shot for the track. The band drives down into the floor of an open face mine under a dull, gray sky. Martin, somber and poofy-haired in the last video, is meaner and balder in this clip. It's almost like he's having an "I Feel You" moment in this clip. The band interacts with the camera closely and from a distance. Then they gang up on it. Then at the end, you realize it was a first-person or gonzo shot video. You never see it coming even though it was right in front of you. This engager of a video would be the last Anton would film for a while.

Although BONG 28 didn't perform as well as the previous "Ultra" offerings had, it was used as the first Enhanced CD singles released from the band. CD BONG 28 hosted the "Barrel of a Gun" video, while LCD BONG 28 held the clip for "It's No Good". Itr was truly a taste of things to come as the band would later experiment with the DVD format in the next album campaign, ultimately employing a standard CD/LCD/DVD disc offering from "Precious" onwards.

US Releases

No Cat#

Reprise Promo 5" CD-R
No Cat#

  • Useless (Radio Edit)
  • Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit)
No Cat#

Reprise Promo 5" CD Single
No Cat#

  • Useless (Edit)
  • Useless (Album Version)
No Cat#

Reprise Promo 5" CD-R
No Cat#

  • Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Extended Mix)
  • Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix)
  • Useless (Barry Adamson Remix)
  • Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™)
  • *Useless (Cosmic Blues Edited Mix)

Notes:
*This version is about a minute longer than the one that appears on CD Bong 28, and features a sample of "Enjoy The Silence" not found in the UK release.

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UK Releases

12 BONG 28

Mute 12" Single
12 BONG 28

  • Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmiester Session™)
  • Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub mix)
  • Useless (Air 20 Mix by Carl Craig)
CD BONG 28

Mute 5" Enhanced CD Single
CD BONG 28

  • Useless (Alan Moulder remix)
  • Useless (Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2)
  • Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix)
  • *Barrel Of A Gun (Video)
LCD BONG 28

Mute Limited Edition 5" Enhanced CD Single
LCD BONG 28

  • Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Mix)
  • Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™)
  • Useless (Live)
  • It's No Good (Video)
P12 BONG 28

Mute Promo 12" Single
P12 BONG 28

  • Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix)
  • Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™)

Notes:
Promo 12" in custom die-cut sleeve.

RCD BONG 28

Mute Promo 5" CD Single
RCD BONG 28

  • Useless (Alan Moulder remix)
  • Useless (Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2)
  • Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix)
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