- Try as he might, Hans-Peter Lindstrøm just can’t quite vacate the space disco throne. After the success of his 'A Feedelity Affair' collection (a definitive moment for the fledgling genre) and numerous interstellar remixes, Lindstrøm professed readiness to explore other parts of his musical self. But to the contrary: ‘Let’s Practise’, his first single of 2007 and his second collaboration with Norwegian chanteuse Solale (aka Isabelle H. Sandoo), retreats to comfortable musical territory. Luckily for us, the end result is invigorating and maintains Lindstrøm’s keen sense for quality control.
Born from an extended jam session, the ten and a half minute long 'Let's Practise' sounds the part, steadily marching forward with no particular endpoint in mind. An enduring arpeggio, laid back guitar licks and puttering percussion drive the track into a sensuous groove – a natural setting for Solale’s playful coo. Her sultry performance and the improvised lyrics add a more human element to the entrancingly rhythmic instrumental – you get the feeling Solale could utter almost anything and it would sound sexy. On the flipside is a dub edit from the unknown Wade Nichols, author of an obscure EP of disco edits ranging from Thin Lizzy to KC & the Sunshine Band. Cutting to the chase (and shaving about three minutes from the song’s length), Nichols selectively soaks the tune in reverb, which sheds more light on the tune’s guitar and bass parts for a leaner, more straightforward track.
While either of these tracks is suited for a disco-ready dance floor, but the attention span and open-mindedness of the audience will likely dictate which side gets played. I’m partial to the original, which makes the most of its extended length and proves more dynamic. And if this is the sound of Lindstrøm and Solale having a laugh, it’s exciting to anticipate their more “serious” future pursuits.
TracklistA Let's Practise (12" Mix)
B Let's Practise (Dub Mix)