Higher State of Consciousness explained

Higher State of Consciousness
Cover:	Josh Wink-Higher State of Consciousness.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Josh Wink
Album:	Left Above the Clouds
Genre:	Acid techno^[1] rave^[2]
Length:	6:15 (Tweekin' Acid Funk) 3:00 (Official Tweekin' Acid Funk radio edit)
Label:	Strictly Rhythm
Producer:	Josh Wink
Prev Title:	Don't Laugh
Prev Year:	1995
Next Title:	Are You There...
Next Year:	1997

"Higher State of Consciousness" is a song by American electronic dance music DJ, label owner, producer, and remixer Josh Wink. It was both written an produced by Wink and first released in March 1995 by Strictly Rhythm, and then included on his debut album, Left Above the Clouds (1996). The song peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart and was a top-10 hit also in Ireland and Spain. In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the track number 128 in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".^[3]

Background

The song was initially a hit in the United Kingdom in 1995, where it reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart. The official 'Original Tweekin' Acid Funk Mix' was remixed by several artists the following year. The radio edit was remixed by Dex and Jonesey and the single peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The track was remixed for a third time in 2007 by Serbian-Australian DJ Dirty South and Australian dance act TV Rock. This remix reached number five in Finland and allowed the original version to climb to number three on the UK Dance Chart. A key sample from the track was used by The Porn Kings for their 1996 track "Up to No Good". Josh Wink had no control over the selection of remixing artists, nor over the final decision to release those remixes.

Critical reception

A reviewer from Music Week rated the song four out of five upon the release of the 1996 remixes.^[4] Andy Crysell from NME wrote about the original release, "Huge on import, massive in clubs worldwide, the Winkster's 303-breakbeat mega-clash finally secures a UK release and sets its sights on the charts. Josh on Top of the Pops? Blimey!"^[5] In December 1995, the NME dance column Vibes ranked "Higher State of Consciousness" number nine in their list of "Singles of the Year.^[6]

Track listings

• 1995 UK CD single

1. "Higher State of Consciousness" (radio edit) (2:55)
2. "Higher State of Consciousness" (original Tweekin' Acid Funk edit) (3:00)
3. "Higher State of Consciousness" (DJ Wink's Hardhouse mix) (7:56)
4. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Jules & Skins Short Vox mix) (4:46)
5. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Jules & Skins Long & Epic mix) (6:33)

• 1996 UK CD single

1. "Higher State of Consciousness" (radio edit (Dex and Jonesey)) (3:39)
2. "Higher State of Consciousness" (original Tweekin' Acid Funk mix) (6:16)
3. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Dex & Jonesey's Higher Stated mix) (6:44)
4. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Mr Spring's Maggott mix) (7:13)
5. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Itty Bitty Boozy Woozy mix) (6:06)
6. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Jules and Skins long epic mix) (6:37)

• 2007 UK CD single

1. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Dirty South & TV rock radio edit)
2. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Dirty South & TV rock club mix)
3. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Marco V remix)
4. "Higher State of Consciousness" (Barratt & Falconi remix)
5. "Higher State of Consciousness" (original Tweekin Acid Funk mix)

Charts

Original release

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Spain (AFYVE)^[7]	9
UK Club Chart (Music Week)^[8]	71
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)^[9]	10

1996 remixes

Chart (1996)	Peak position
UK Club Chart (Music Week)^[10]	1
UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week)^[11]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
UK Singles (OCC)^[12] ^[13]	60
UK Club Chart (Music Week)^[14]	24

Release history

Region	Version	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
Germany	Original	March 27, 1995	CD	ZYX Music
United Kingdom		October 9, 1995		Manifesto	^[15]
	1996 remixes	July 15, 1996			^[16]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 10 Years of Techno - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic. AllMusic. August 26, 2017.
2. Web site: History of Acid Techno [ZYX] - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic]. AllMusic. August 26, 2017.
3. Web site: Jon. Dolan. Julyssa. Lopez. Michaelangelo. Matos. Claire. Shaffer. 200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone. July 22, 2022. October 30, 2022.
4. Reviews: Singles. Music Week. July 6, 1996. 10. September 1, 2021.
5. Andy. Crysell. Groove Check. NME. October 7, 1995. 21. March 14, 2024.
6. Vibes: Singles of the Year. NME. December 23, 1995. 41. May 9, 2024.
7. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
8. The RM Club Chart . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert) . March 25, 1995 . 6 . September 2, 2021.
9. Dance Club Songs. Billboard. April 29, 1995. subscription. June 20, 2023.
10. The RM Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). July 6, 1996. 6. September 1, 2021.
11. The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). July 20, 1996. 8. September 1, 2021.
12. Top 100 Singles 1996. Music Week. 25. January 18, 1997.
13. Web site: Najlepsze single na UK Top 40-1996 wg sprzedaży. pl. March 28, 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604144645/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201996.html. June 4, 2015.
14. The RM Club Chart of the Year 96. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). January 11, 1997. 8. May 4, 2022.
15. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 47. October 7, 1995.
16. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 27. July 13, 1996.