Wednesday 6 January 2010

DEERHOOF – CUSTOM MADE EP (ATR RECORDINGS)


DEERHOOF – CUSTOM MADE EP (ATR RECORDINGS)

Have we really reached the stage where it has become acceptable and expected that we now shell out £10 for a double seven inch single? At least its environment crushing heavy vinyl.

Working on the premise of something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue this marriage of songs makes for a solid declaration of how wonderful the music of Deerhoof can be. This is a band then feels unique, difficult sound but still very digestible that does not sacrifice fun in the name of exploration.

The release opens with an alternate take of “The Tears And Music Of Love” which actually sounds like a song title straight out of the Blonde Redhead songbook but is actually a track that sounds like a frenetic toddler clapping. Originally found on “Offend Maggie” this version is a rough and ready take on events that lends a lot of energy and real boost to the tablet. This more resembles the live version and dare I say the song sounding at its best. Eventually it culminates with calamitous drums marking the climax of proceedings.

Flipping over the “something new” arrives in the form of a piano and vocal version of “Makko Shobu”. This does not necessarily sound like Deerhoof, indeed with a neon video it could pass for real J-Pop. It is a gorgeous and delicate romp that reminds me of snowflakes and Christmas. Satomi might be singing about toilets but in my mind this stuff serves to make me happy.

Moving onto the second seven inch the “something borrowed” element arrives in the form of a remix by Germlin of “Rrrrrrright” which the band invited to deconstruct and reassemble on their website a few years ago. I even did a DJGRAM remix of the track that essentially just combined the culmination (and birth of Darth Vader) from Star Wars III: Revenge Of The Sith. It was lazy but amusing. This remix is altogether far more considered as it adds an element of chiptune to proceedings, almost retaining an android theme. It is a swift reworking that would definitely be at home on some crazy video in a scuzzy amusement arcade either side of the Atlantic.

The collection concludes with a full band version of “Blue Cash” which actually makes me think of “My Valuable Hunting Knife” by Guided By Voice if it were being played on the beach in a Hawaiian shirt. Its sweetness.

In many ways the best band around. Shame about the artwork

Thesaurus moment: savant.

Deerhoof

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