- Even though it was revealed earlier this year that Modular Recordings were apparently on the verge of bankruptcy, it's hard to deny the fact that the label had a very strong year artistically speaking. Everyone's favorite Aussies Cut Copy unleashed an album of perennial quality, and artists such as The Presets and Ladyhawke revealed themselves to be electro-pop players, while the first Bumblebeez and Eine Kleine Nacht Musik albums—coupled with the licensing of The Tough Alliance peerless EP—proved to be smart moves, only strengthening the label's diversity, openness and overall relevance.
To end such a celebratory release schedule, it seems fitting to see the label's own resident party animals The Bang Gang DJs (AKA Hoodrat, Ajax, Doom, Dangerous Dan, DJ Damage, and Double Nolan) offer a mixed, 2-CD compilation that perfectly matches Modular's 2008 brilliance. The sextet's previous mix for the label, 2007's Light Sound Dance, epitomized the blossoming Melbourne maximalist clubbing scene—a welcomed, if unlikely, alternative to the usual European and North American epicenters. D Is for Disco, E Is for Dancing follows, in part, the same footsteps.
Indeed, at first glance at least, the second disc seems to predictably include the sub-genre's usual suspects (Digitalism and Boys Noize original material, Shinichi Osawa, Fake Blood and Switch remixes) in a way you've probably heard them compiled on other mixes (by either Gildas & Masaya, Alex Rhida or even Tommie Sunshine) in the recent past. If nothing else, then, D Is for Disco serves as a pertinent '08 round-up, showcasing the year's key tracks such as A-Trak's Kitsuné-sponsored "Say Whoa," Cut Copy's own glorious "Far Away," the bouncy Crookers remix of Kid Cudi's "Day 'N' Nite" and Surkin's mighty Inner City-worthy "White Knight Two." That you have six different pairs of ears and hands at work here only serves to enhance the mix's meticulous assemblage and surprising tightness.
Even more surprising is the content of CD 1, on which the Bang Gang gangbangs every style in sight without ever losing its focus. Where else could you find a DJ mix in 2008 that dared to go from Bangers & Cash, Jamie Lidell and Ratatat to Ost & Kjex, Supermayer and Justus Köhncke and on which Teki Latex's high-pitched moan could sound at ease surrounded by Italo disco à la Rodion remixing Telespazio and the eccentric pop à la Of Montreal? Only on Modular most likely. Long may they continue to lose money.
TracklistCD 1
01. One-Two - Annie Mall (Radioclit Remix)
02. Sugardaddy - Wack
03. Tacteel - Dressed In Polyester
04. Bangers And Cash - Loose
05. Yuksek - Contact
06. Architecture In Helsinki - Heart It Races (Spruce Lee Remix)
07. Kerowack - Dirtgrabber
08. Biz Markie - Turn Tha Party Out
09. Jamie Lidell - Little Bit Of Feel Good (Mr Oizo Remix)
10. Ratatat - Lex
11. Jackson & His Computer Band - Rock On
12. Midnight Mike - I Need You Tonight
13. Late Of The Pier - The Bears Are Coming
14. Ssion - Clown
15. Munk - Live Fast Die Old! (Maral Salmassi & Zero Cash Remix)
16. B.W.H. - Livin' Up
17. Holy Ghost! - Hold On
18. Canyons - More Champagne
19. Cazals - Life Is Boring (Ali Love/Harder Remix)
20. Siriusmo - Simple
21. Ost & Kjex - Boston Food Strangler
22. SuperMayer - The Art Of Letting Go (Ewan's Daft Funk Instrumental)
23. Justus Köhncke - Parage
24. Mickey Moonlight - Interplanetary Music (Riton Re-Rub)
25. Klanguage - Priceless Things
26. Jean Nipon - Can't You Fuck Like You Dance
27. Telespazio - Galiled (Rodion Remix)
28. Tekilatex - Go Go Go
29. Of Montreal - Grolandic Edit
30. PJ Pooterhoots - Can't Go For That
31. Msawawa - Bowungakanani
CD 2
01. Fred Falke - Last Wave
02. Tronik Youth - We Are...
03. Gloves - PYX
04. The Jai-Alai Savant - White On White Crime (Shir Khan Remix)
05. DJ C feat. Jorge Stylo - Juce
06. Brodinski - Bad Runner (Crookers Gone Electro Remix)
07. Underworld - Ring Road (Fake Blood Remix)
08. M.I.A. - Jimmy
09. Digitalism - The Pulse (Derdiedas Remix)
10. Shitdisco - I Know Kung Fu (David Rubato Remix)
11. Beni - My Love Sees You
12. A-Trak - Say Whoa
13. Laurent Wolf - The Crow
14. Scottie B & King Tut - African Chant
15. Etienne De Crécy - Punk
16. The Presets - Kicking And Screaming (Bang Gang's E Is For Edit)
17. Daniel Haaksman - Who's Afraid Of Rio?
18. Steve Angello & Laidback Luke - Be (Laidback Luke's Rave Edit)
19. Soundstream - Freakin'
20. Radioclit - Divine Gosa (Switch Remix)
21. Treasure Fingers - Cross The Dancefloor
22. Lenni Sesar - Morris Park (Bonde Do Role Vocal Remix)
23. Boys Noize - Oh! (A-Trak Remix)
24. Proxy - Raven
25. Kid Cudi - Day 'N' Nite (Crookers First Remix)
26. T Palmer - Tasteless
27. Feadz - Hawiian Smut
28. Li'll Bo Tweak - Got Dat Bass
29. Diskokaine - Riminini (Instrumental)
30. TMVR - Bowie in the Bronx (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
31. Bag Raiders - Turbo Love (Bag Raiders Tough Love Edition)
32. Surkin - White Knight Two
33. The Tough Alliance - Neo Violence (Shazam Remix)
34. The Lowbrows - Dream in the Desert
35. Cut Copy - Far Away (Bag Raiders Remix)
36. Jaunt - Travelling