Sexual Harassment - "If I Gave You A Party". Antique, ridiculous, tongue-and-cheek eighties electro: a squelching synth and the giddy interruption of a jet engine. My favourite bit is the high-pitched flutey synth introduced a minute and a half in. It's carefree and dumb, like a deer on amphetamines, but it frolics gayly as Sexual Harassment's house party gets underway, as they invite, seduce, nudge, dance, booze.
Rachel's - "Last Things Last". The only really great thing on 2003's Rachel's release, Systems/Layers, and, ironically, the track that diverges most from Rachel's house style. Gone is the indie classical composition, replaced with a fairly conventional, sad piano-bass-voice ballad. That it's conventional doesn't mean that it's anything less that wonderful, however - there's something really magical in the way that the regretful piano chords leap into whitebright hope, the way that Shannon Wright's bluesy alto leaves all this room for joy. Whenever I'm listening carefully, I get goosebumps at 1:40 - just as the tambourine stutters to life.
Posted by Sean at February 4, 2004 9:45 PMthat sexual harrasment song is awesome - the remixed version that is on the comp 'sound of young new york' is great, but i'm glad to now have the original! thanks!
Posted by mr. blair at February 6, 2004 10:00 AM