popwreckoning

Exactly 1 year after a manic sold-out show at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, English electropop / dance trio Friendly Fires have announced details of a forthcoming mix CD to be released through Rough Trade Records. The CD is one of a humorously-titled series called Bugged Out Presents Suck My Deck that has welcomed dance music acts / DJs such as Simian Mobile Disco and Brodinski to provide similar mixes. The Friendly Fires edition includes New York’s Phenomenal Handclap Band and Scandinavian disco-pop duo Lindstrom and Christabelle. While the album won’t be released until September 27, you can pre-order it now on Rough Trade’s website here.

In addition to 18 tracks hand-picked by the band from other artists, the compilation includes “Stay Here,” a collaboration with Toronto’s Azari & III. The tune will make its radio debut today on DJ Annie Mac‘s Radio1 show tonight from 7 to 9 PM GMT (that’s 2 to 4 PM ET). No worries if you miss it today, it will available for 7 days after broadcast on the BBC iPlayer.

Friendly Fires have been previewing other new tracks while on the European festival circuit this summer. Their yet-to-be-titled sophomore album is due sometime in 2011, according to various media reports. Track titles include “Running Away” and “True Love”, and the band have divulged that the new release will feature the Brazilian cuíca (commonly used in samba music) and the African kalimba.

Mix CD tracklisting:
01. The Egyptian Lover – Freak-A-Holic
02. Bot’Ox – Bearded Lady Motorcycle Show
03. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – You’ll Disappear (Munk Remix)
04. Tom Trago – Lost In The Streets of NYC (Boris Werner Lost In Malta Remix)
05. Ryan Crosson – Metro Bunker (Original Mix)
06. Lindstrom and Christabelle – Baby Can’t Stop (Aeroplane Remix)
07. Rebotini – 777 (Discodeine Remix)
08. Tensnake – Coma Cat
09. Munk – La Musica (Azari & III Remix)
10. Friendly Fires and Azari & III – Stay Here
11. Redshape – Dog Day
12. The 2 Bears – Be Strong
13. Butch – No Worries
14. George Kranz – Din Daa Daa
15. Jody “Fingers” Finch – Jack Your Big Booty (BHQ No Acid Vocal)
16. BDI – City & Industry
17. Alan Fitzpatrick – Green Light
18. Boo Williams – Mortal Trance
19. Round Two – New Day (Club Vocal Mix)

Thumbnail Photo: Mary Chang

Friendly Fires: website | myspace | Friendly Fires review | Remix Monday: “Skeleton Boy” | @ Black Cat | @ Dot to Dot Festival | interview with pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 | Mercury Prize Nominations Announced | New Video on MTV, To Play Jimmy Kimmel and Winter Nylon Tour, Release Expanded Version of Debut Album | @ Lollapalooza 2009 | @ le poisson rouge | @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | on Jimmy Kimmel | Remix Monday: “Paris” | @ Paradise | Friendly Fires / Holy Ghost! – 12″ Split Single

I’ve always really liked Simian Mobile Disco, the production and remix team, which I guess you could call a band. They formed from the ashes of Simian and the members consist of James Ford and Jas Shaw. Their music is electronic based but always original and most of the time, a little out there. “Audacity of Huge” is a track off of their last studio release Temporary Pleasure. I didn’t think I liked it at first but I actually really do. It’s just so damn catchy.

.Simian Mobile Disco – “Audacity of Huge”
The song starts off very odd. The sequencers bubble like hot water, releasing up and down bleeps that get your head bopping in almost no time. We’re treated to a strangely auto-tuned voice that is reminiscent of a robotic dog barking. The chorus sounds like a trippy group of Gregorian Monks. It’s just a twitching, funky, electronic piece of production with nonsensical lyrics about Joey Ramone, PM Dawn and Damien Hirst, to name but a few. Best part of the track is vocals, they’re youthful and sleek, and sung by Chris Keating of Yeasayer.

.Dada Life Guerilla Fart #10 Remix
I don’t even know where a title like that comes from. The mix itself is a similar production the original and it’s hard to tell them apart. The Dada Life mix is a little harder and faster, with a bit more of a techno touch. But the vocals and overall progression of the words are allowed to run through. The biggest difference is that this mix splices the song at various points to interject its own musical compositions. Slight, but noticeable.

.Allez Allez Remix
This is another one of those mixes that hardly has a sound similarity to the original. The only part that sticks it the underlying bass riff. Otherwise everything built on it is much more ethereal, instrumental, softer and significantly more peaceful. It feels very airy and dreamy. It’s a great tune to have on in the background or at a party when you’re aiming for something a little more low key than dance heavy.

.Simian Mobile Disco Space Cave Version
Done by the originals boys, this is a re-working of their own. Very similar in progression but stripped raw, hence the Space Cave name. It’s very clubby, trancey and for those ‘out of your mind’ dance experiences. No vocals here, just pure beats and bleeps.

Simian Mobile Disco: website | myspace