Yay! A remix album – there’s always loads of point to these! (well, paying Fat Bob’s pension, now that ‘Close To Me’ soundtracks EVERY telly advert, I suppose). I never quite know why artists bother with these things – satiating fans till next LP proper? Vanity? However, they all seem to follow a strict template – 3 or 4 tracks worth bothering with, and the rest filler. On this level, ‘Night Light’ doesn’t disappoint. Jens Lekman’s take on ‘Shadows’ is wonderful; it showcases the vocal perfectly and swoons like a sunny walk down the Seine. Jensen Sportag manages to turn ‘All Or Nothing’ into a game show theme tune written by Curtis Mayfield, and if Dam Mantle don’t add anything to ‘Knight Of Wands’, they make it sound pretty well like a Dam Mantle track, which is never a bad plan. Ditto Your Twenties taking ‘Anywhere You Looked’ into 80’s soul territory. However, Montag’s ‘Trace A Line’ is simply St Etienne done badly, and I’m not going into the dub mix of ‘The Last One’, other than to say COD in huge big letters. Just like that there. COD. Not really an essential purchase other than for rabid fans…who’ll probably like the originals a lot better….hey ho…
Au Revoir Simone are a precocious trio from New York who seem highly capable of churning out easy listening, pleasant little ditties. ‘Another Likely Story’ is an enchanting song, seemingly about a girl not being able to depend on her lover. The lyrics sing “Don’t tell me, it’s another likely story, could’ve pinned it on you from the start”. Twinkling synths and hissy percussion add to these lyrics, presenting us with an ethereal lining bursting with melody which is beautifully complemented by the catchy vocals – both in the form of the verse and the Lily Allen-esque chorus. Listening to this is more of an experience than simply banging on a tune – and it most certainly is a pleasant one. To date, all showings of Au Revoir Simone have been top quality and the trio is gathering a real head of steam. These girls are certainly a force to be reckoned with.
