Another post cobbled together under difficult technological circumstances (a new definition of blogging modernism after Kit Lambert’s description of mod as clean living under difficult circumstances for you there). This is Mike D, Beastie Boy, remixing Warpaint. The new Warpaint album is pretty good but I don’t feel like it’s got under my skin yet in the way the previous ones did. For his remix Mike D slows it right down, strips away the instruments, lets the vocals carry the melody and adds a Kangol hatful of 80s hip hop influences. Whatchuwaitinfor? Ch-ch-ch-ch-check it out.
I was rumaging through a box of covermount cds from music magazines when I found five that came glued to the front of Select, the late and not especially lamented Britpop bible. Select started during the glory days of Madchester but found it’s niche with the arrival of Suede, along with St Etienne, Pulp and Denim. It went on to feature Oasis, Blur and Menswear on a monthly basis but at least had the benefit of some good writers, a nice monthly feature with a suggested cover and tracklist for a mixtape and occasional forays into (usually British) dance music. The free cds (The Deep End, and then Revolutions One through to Five) had some tracks I’d forgotten about, with quite a few goodies. Here’s one of them.
Moby’s Play album sold several gazillion copies and every track on it was licensed to sell some product or other. It had it’s moments but familiarity bred contempt, round these parts anyway. Select got hold of this track and gave it away in May 2000- Moby’s Natural Blues remixed by Beastie Boy Mike D (centre in picture, as I’m sure you know). I’m pretty sure I remember reading that this isn’t an actual remix, and that Mike D and others recreated the track live instead. Which explains the busy, clattering drums, messy instruments, jumbled production and chanted vox. It’s actually very good, and sounds nothing like the rest of the Play album. More Select Shun’s to follow.
Bagging Area 