So while my lab partner and co-author is currently on holiday in Southern California, I am left here in the expanse of volatile temperature differentials, ice crashed trees, and perpetual mud pits that was once known as New England. This has left me with a large amount of free time to try and piss away as efficiently as possible until her expected return. Thankfully, my friends at Valerie Cherie haven’t left me to my own devices and have kept me a well entertained post holiday consumer with their latest endorsement of Edwin Van Cleef.

Van Cleef brings to the table two singles and a space disco mix. Space disco mix, you say– how could this go wrong?? I don’t know, but I don’t think it ever could. Van Cleef delivers on this. Dancing is bound to be had or would be had if the cool kids out there danced instead of standing in one spot restricting their outward gesticulations of “pleasure” to just the occasional head bob and stage pointing. Regardless of what sticks certain indie-fucks out there might have where, this mix really brings it to the table. I’m pretty sure his singles alone have enough energy to power the Tannhauser Gate. I myself am more of a fan of Van Cleef’s Lovin’ compared to I Want You, as the latter has a kooky sort of oscillating fading that happens throughout the entire song and I find it a little distracting, but that might not be the case for other people out there.

Edwin Van Cleef could very well upstage the singles that Fear of Tigers released about a month ago (also by way of the Valerie Cherie collective), but I have a feeling that I will come to love the two equally so. Fear of Tigers really got me with their release of The Adventures of Pippi Longstrump. Speaking for Astrid Lindgren, since we were homeslices back in the day, she would have loved it. It’s bright, cheery, melodic, great to dance to and thus perfect for any morning wake up routine. Reaching over and checking Gmail from my laptop while still in bed has never been more dancetastic. Dancetastic. It’s a word. No? Well it is now.

This single, in combination with Study Hard Drug School really makes the grade I feel. I know Fear of Tigers or Van Cleef will definitely be getting my dollars turned euros from La Baleine should either of them ever cut an album, or if Valerie put out a Best Of. This is spite of the the latest purchase I made of College’s most recent album “Secret Diary”.

Secret Diary and I have only been seeing one another for a few days, and though I have given it a good run through four now going on five times, I find that it’s been a little hard to get into. It’s almost as if sometimes the sound of the music on the last 2/3 of the CD could have been in the cooker for a while longer. The drum beats work well with the minimalist synths in the first two tracks, and the vocals on The Energy Story which features Minitel Rose really hit the spot. Smooth. Like a gin martini at some bourgeois hipster dive.

However, the rest of the CD grows on me a little more each day, but I feel as if there there’s a predetermined point where my Like with fail to achieve the critical music mass and never blossom into musical Love. Ever. This is which I’m guarding myself in regards to this CD, because I’m expecting disappointment on account of some of the songs being so very short, maybe under developed. But it isn’t that it is disappointing, I’m just afraid of being hurt. Like when the last Ladytron album dropped. I cried a little. Despite all that, this is pretty minimalist, but no ambient Eno rip off. So if you liked the in between tracks on Karacter‘s eponymous release on Archenemy records this is probably up your alley.

Handclaps for these tracks from College’s Secret Diary:

  • The Energy Story (feat. Minitel Rose)
  • She Never Came back (feat. ElectricYouth)
  • I Think About It
  • Fantasy Park (feat. Anoraak)

I’d give a few joanas to only one track, that being Something Wrong Tonight, because I feel as if it is too harsh, too abrasive sounding and stands out in an almost ostentatious sort of way that is very distracting from the quieter melodies and pensive-pop sounds. It’s almost a little goofy sounding.

Over all though, this CD is really pretty good and I don’t regret buying it. And in this economy, with frugality all around boxing one in, if they can buy something as non-utilitarian as music and be pleased with the purchase, that says something.

So for those of you in the New York City area, and for those of you willing to ride a train there (maybe myself), there’s a Valerie Party coming to a Webster Hall near you. This is happening January 23rd, so there is time left to save the date. I’ve been considering it. Anoraak and College will both be there, as well as two other groups Russ Chimes and Lovelock, of whom I am both in the dark about, but with any luck won’t be the case for much longer. 10/20 USD in advance/at the door respectively. Make sure to look sharp, and have your Swatches synchronized- doors open at 23:00.

Hugs,

-ID

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