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If you haven't noticed, I love the Teenagers and I find that I have to write about them pretty often to relieve myself of the need that builds up inside me like steam in a kettle (as I did here and here). There is just something so fun about their minimalist blend of pervy lyrics, distinctive bass lines and tinny programmed drums. Sometimes I imagine that if it wasn't for vocalist Quentin's affected French accent the band would be rather plain, but after seeing them live I was totally enthralled. I think they are the kind of band which work better in a small venue rather than massive settings, as with my experience with them they made the stuffy Birmingham Academy 3 into the coolest party that you've ever been invited too. They are a band that actually appear to be having a good time on stage, especially Quentin who excels himself pulling (admittedly camp) shapes at the first sign of a camera from a hand sticking out of the crowd.
You may have heard 'Selflove', an album demo which was floating around on the blogs a short time back, but with the release of their latest single for Merok, Starlett Johansson, the band have renamed the track and unleashed it under the title of 'Full Flavor'. It is, as far as I can tell, a song about masturbation; a topic which seems rather fitting for a band who are renowned for writing rude songs. 'Sunset Beach' is an older song of theirs, but I still love it like I would I small child who happened to be mine. It sounds like the soundtrack to an American 80s TV show which you happened to stumble across on cable in the early hours of the morning, still feeling the effects of the heavy evening of drinks from which you haven't recovered. And then you wake up and realise it was all a dream, and you are sitting in your underpants in the living room, the TV throwing out nothing by static. According to the band another single is in the pipeline, as well as an album, which will be on Merok.
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)
I remember the first time I heard the Teenagers. My girlfriend, Tori, had 'Homecoming' as her profile song on myspace. First I was slightly shocked, but it grew on me. So much so that I have spent the past few months since then trying to track down as much of their material as possible. For those of you who haven't come across the Teens yet (seriously, you must have?), you may have heard some of their distinctive remixes for New Young Pony Club, Au Revoir Simone and Simian Mobile Disco, to name just a few. 'Sleeping Bag' is a track I haven't seen featured on any blogs, and although this version is tagged the Yo version, I haven't a clue what the original version sounds like. All I know is that this track share a similar haunting vibe in its sound as 'Homecoming', the lyrics verging on the pervy (Tori and I are pretty certain that the lyrics say "I'm feeling all erect" - yet to be confirmed). If anyone knows where you can catch the original version, please shout!'Homecoming' is set to be their first single, out 20th May on Merok records (the label that brought you Klaxons and Crystal Castles no doubt). Backed by 'Fuck Nicole', the single is titled We are the Teenagers, the title of the second track which I have included for your pleasure. Consider it an audio calling-card of the Teenagers' sound: 2 minutes of perfect minimalist trance-pop. Or, jargon aside, just another example of why I love the Teenagers so much.mp3: The Teenagers - Sleeping Bag (Yo version)mp3: The Teenagers - We are the Teenagersvideo: The Teenagers - Homecoming
