You know, the first drum n bass tune I've ever listened was Adam F remix of "Before Today", and just for this fact this maxi has a place between my favourites. But it has many merits on its own: the original is a beautiful simple love song, without the angst and the doubts that lurk behind most of the EBTG lyrics, and every remix does something different. Adam F adds a fantastic jazzy atmosphere with trumpets, guitars, and all that 80s mood he managed to replicate in his best cuts. Darren Emmerson, the visible producer in Underworld back then, does two very Underworld-like remixes, housey, bouncy, dubby, and though the first mix stands out clearly, they are both very good: both are full of very complex rhythm patters and layers upon layers, a lot of unpredicted syncopation. This Emmerson was really good when he was inspired.Chicane does his best too with his remix with a 3/3/3/3/2/2 rhythm pattern that turns the song into a gentle electronic bossanova with a potent bass and, yes, very Ibiza. No wonder why EBTG took this one for the compilations.Dillinja ends the maxi single with, more than a remix, one of his own harsh compositions. It starts with the melodic line of the song, and then it stops and attacks with a noisy 2/2 which has barely some Tracey "ah!" and some keyboards. The rest is loop trickery, which after all is something Dillinja masters.One beautiful song and five potent remixes. One of my most precious albums in my shelves.

Another outstanding remix single from Everything But the Girl. BEFORE TODAY ranges far and wide, Darren Emerson’s thumping techno to Chicane’s sunny Ibiza-ready downtempo. Adam F does a superb job on his mix, merging sweetness and beats in one fell swoop. Dillinja goes for a much harder edge, almost entirely obliterating the vocals under the heavy rhythm. But overall, the single carries its hope and beauty as lightly as a memory.