Love Is All: Mixed Up
Monday, 21 Jan 2008 17:10
Love Is All - somewhat transformed.
What's Your Rapture, out now.
In a nutshell...
Indie-pop remixed to electro-funk.
What's it all about?
Following the Swede's 2006 debut Nine Times That Same Song, this album showcases remixes of the album's better tracks. Included is a range of pleasant funk-grooves to syncopated-electro mixed up with a few synths.
Who's it by?
Love Is All combine a tender blend of pop sensibilities with some dancey-indie numbers that wouldn't go amiss at one of the Rapture's after-parties. Their album-proper found measured critical acclaim but the main creative influence here comes from those providing the mixes: the Bees and Hot Chip amongst others – speaks for itself.
As an example…
"I turned the radio off/Hey world, I'm coming," –Turn The Radio Off (Maps Remix)
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Unlikely to hit the big-time, the songs have received a warm reception yet only from those with an ear to the ground. An alt-favourite and good to name drop as that remix-album that didn't get a look in.
What the others say
"Even if you're a fan of the band, remix albums can be uneven propositions… more a showcase for some of the best remixers around." –NME.com
"A lovely bit of dancefloor dreamadelica but about as useful as a paper umbrella." –Times Online
So is it any good?
The remix album can always be a dubious motion to pass and is often the fig-leaf that hides a subtle cash-in with – it being all too easy to change a few levels and pass off a 'new' track. However, here the effort has at least been made to rope in people who know what they’re doing with Metronomy and Maps lending a certain credibility to the show. Standouts comes from the Bees, whose reworking of Make Out Fall Out Make Up seems to hark from a jam session at James Brown's studio, and the ever-affecting Hot Chip who present a joyous and effervescent version of Felt Tip. Ultimately these are good tunes and good, fulfilling listens, but whether they should be anything more than a bonus disc on the next studio-album is something to be considered.
6/10
Mat Strowbridge
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