The Little Ones uncovered.

I've known of the Little Ones for awhile, Bay Radio having been sent several singles and their ep during the year, however I never really gave the Californian 5-piece a chance. This changed the other day upon hearing their latest single 'Lovers Who Uncover' from their Sing Song EP, and I must admit I fell in love with it. The track sounds really sad, a lamentation of love, all delayed guitars, pulsing bass and drifting keyboards. They kinda make me think of the Maccabees, but put through an American filter. I think it's something to do with that 'sad' sound that makes you want to sigh and watch clouds drift past your window. Simply put, it's beautiful, and I am pretty sure it's going to be one of my songs of the summer, and most likely the year. The video, directed by Terri Timely is also well worth checking out, if only to see the band performing in a shipping container.



Having been listening to the track I've remembered that this isn't my first encounter with this track, and that I had come accross a remix back in February. In what's becoming a reoccuring theme in my posts, I've included the Crystal Castles remix which I had not been to excited by when I first heard it. However, now having heard the Little Ones original, and having listened to the remix a few times I would class it as a bit of a grower. It's not on the same level as that Liars remix posted a few weeks ago: all trademark CC 8-bit flourishes and driving synths, but its a good listen for anyone who likes either bands.

The Little Ones Sing Song EP is available now on Astralwerks.

mp3: The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover
mp3: The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover (Crystal Castles remix)

O M G, I think I'm in love.

Okay. Let's assess the situation.

Yesterday morning I sat my one and only exam (it was not too bad), and spent the rest of the day indulging in my radio show and various tomfoolery to do with the radio. Tom and I are going to spend today doing some maintenance to the studio, so I'm up early (its before nine am) despite not getting to bed until about 4.30am, following a night in the pier with Leona, Hannah and Kathleen. I'm a bit sad that I may not see them again until September, but as I am going home this evening I thought I may as well make the most of my last night.

Oh, and when I got in I decided to watch the most recent episode of Lost. I think I may even have got tearful whilst watching this. I think I'm unstable from lack of sleep.



So, to match my unstable mind, and also due to the fact I may not get to post for a few days (the internet at home in ancient dial-up, although Mom says she may get broadband and a new snazzy PC), here's a song that I have been enjoying the last few days which I hope you like. I stumbled on it by chance, and it has instantly become my favourite of the 'Homecoming' remixes. I'm talking about The Cleft Palettes mix of the Teenagers first single, which takes the original, covers it in 8-bit blips (ala Crystal Castles) and replaces the Teens' original dialogue with a satirical take on the whole "new-rave" scene. It's clever, witty, and original, albeit rather childish.

Just how I like it.

mp3: The Teenagers - Homecoming (The Cleft Palettes remix)



Whilst I'm at it, and because I just mentioned them in passing, why don't I add some Crystal Castles. 'Knights' is one of their most recent tracks, and is to be featured on the Kitsuné Records Compilation 4. Is it just me or does the production sound slightly different than previous efforts? The track sounds rather dark: the vocals distorted and seemingly crying in the background over their trademark waves of synth and rising/falling 8-bit samples.

Also, finally got my hands on the remix they did of Uffie's 'Pop the Glock' entitled 'Make it Hott'. It's well worth checking out, as it is an interesting mix, very different to a lot of their remix work as whilst transferring the song into their own little dream world of computer noises, they edit the track up a fair bit, isolating certain sections, and glitching it up, but not murdering it like the Curtis Vodka mix. Hott indeed.

mp3: Crystal Castles - Knights
mp3: Uffie - Make it Hott (Crystal Castles remix)

It fit when I was a kid.

I don't really know much about Liars, apart from that many heralded last years Drum's not Dead as one of their albums of the year. Having only heard bits and pieces of their back catalogue I came to the conclusion that they had a pretty uncompromising sound, bass-heavy, full of drums and low vocals.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, Tori presented me with a Liars remix she had come across by Toronto's Crystal Castles, whom we both adore. The remix was of a track off of DnD, 'It fit when I was a kid', one which I hadn't previously heard. I find that listening to a remix prior to the original mix will always taint my mind, so that when I do eventually hear the original mix it becomes less accessible than if it was heard first (example: Diplo's mix of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Gold Lion' will always be favoured over the album version). Well, anyway, after a couple of weeks listening to CC's interpretation, all 8-bit blippery, haunting echo-harmonies and resonant pianos, I decided it was time to listen to the track how Liars had intended it to be heard. And I was surprised. Unlike CC's mix, the Liars original felt much more cold and empty. Yet whilst that description may not sound like a complement, it should be read as one. It isn't until about the 2 minute mark until the elements which are distinctive to the Crystal Castle remix come in; the ambient piano chords and nursery-rhyme-esque vocals. It certainly was more than I expected, and has made me seriously reconsider listening to Liars more intently, especially their last album. Hear for yourself.

Liars Drum's Not Dead is available on Mute.
Crystal Castles will release the Untrust Us EP on Summer Lovers Unlimited in the not too distant future.

mp3: Liars - It fit when I was a kid
mp3: Liars - It fit when I was a kid (Crystal Castles remix)