Initially Neil and Chris considered calling this album "London/Berlin" as it was influenced by the music and club scene in both cities, but a last minute change of heart saw it dubbed "Disco 3". Yet this isn't a remix album in the strictest sense as half of the tracks are new recordings.
When compared to the CD, the commercial vinyl has two extra tracks as it features two additional dub mixes. The running order is also different on vinyl with no less than three different mixes of "London" pushed front and centre. As the promotional double LP (on the right of the picture) doesn't feature any new material, you could argue that this is a true remix album and is a much better fit for the "Disco" series.
Released in 2002, this album is something of a reaction to their previous effort "Release" which was a rather dour affair that didn't appeal to many. For me "Disco 3" felt like it was drawing a line under the guitar related nonsense and was returning them to their synth-pop roots.
Opening track "Time on my hands" was initially recorded for the album "Release" but it was set aside as it didn't fit with the soft rock theme. You'd never say this was amongst their best as there are too many echoes of "Electricity" from "Bilingual" and what melody there is, is not exactly anthemic. Yet it is better than almost everything on "Release".
"Positive Role Model" is a song from their rather disappointing musical "Closer To Heaven", and there is a cover version of "Try It (I'm In Love With A Married Man)" originally recorded by a Bobby Orlando vehicle called Oh Romeo. "If Looks Could Kill" was first heard on their first (and only) Peel session, but the version here is a little more frenetic and beat driven. The highlight of the package is the stunning "Somebody Else's Business" which is a track I adore and I can't understand why it is ignored by so many.
Of the remixes, the Blank & Jones trance version of "Home and Dry" is the pick, with the boys own revision of "Here" adding some sparkle to an otherwise mundane album cut. The Felix da Housecat remix of "London" is unedited and runs for just under three minutes longer than on CD. Whilst this is a mixed bag, it did feel like the boys were back on course after a brief trip off piste. 3/5
