Kings Of Convenience - I Don't Know What I Can Save You From (Royksopp Remix) (Source, 2001)

Folktronic re-rub. Gorgeous.

The electronic re-setting of this lovely Kings Of Convenience tune works perfectly, adding gentle percussive momentum that gives it a frosty, widescreen feel. Like sitting on a warm train, looking out across the Alps from a window seat.

As the track builds, curlicues of refracted guitar and piano lift it even further in the heavens.

Download Kings Of Convenience 'I Don't Know What I Can Save You From (Royksopp Remix)' (indie, pop, remix, mp3) (Rapidshare)

Tahiti 80 - A Love From Outer Space (Tore Johansson Mix) (Atmosphériques, 2001)

AR Kane given a machine pop makeover. 

Tore Johansson, producer of The Cardigans and Saint Etienne's fantastic 'Good Humor' amongst other things, gave French indie poppers Tahiti 80 a machine-tooled, almost Ace of Base makeover on this AR Kane cover.

Some of the airy mystery of the original is lost but it's still has a beguiling, swirling romance and sounds like it was spun from pure sugar.

Download Tahiti 80 'A Love From Outer Space (Tore Johansson Mix)' (indie mp3) (Mediafire)

Kings Of Convenience - The Eternal (Joy Division Cover) (Source, 2001)

Papa M-ish Joy Division cover. Perkily morose, if that's possible.

Kings Of Convenience bring out the drum kit to add a level of procession to this Joy Division cover. It has the feel of David Pajo's Papa M material, acoustic-based country post-rock gothic balladry. Quite a narrow genre really so it's nice to hear someone else rising to the challenge...

The song is based around a springy, cubic acoustic guitar pattern that takes on the main riff, set against the crisp, pure vocal. The drums and rolling bass add structure and some beautiful reverbed and distorted guitar make burst into life and make it a truly great cover. Sacrilege or otherwise.

Download Kings Of Convenience 'The Eternal (Joy Division Cover)' (indie, acoustic, mp3) (Badongo)

Kings Of Convenience - Manhattan Skyline (A-ha Cover) (Source, 2001)

Great cover of the A-ha song in the sweet, intimate KoC style.

I re-discovered this when going through a box of CD singles in the loft over Christmas. Aside from being brilliant in their own songwriting, Kings Of Convenience did a nice line in b-side covers. More will surely appear here over the next few weeks...

I have to confess to loving the A-ha original - a guilty pleasure maybe, but great minor key pop nonetheless.

The interlinking of guitars and harmonies that Kings Of Convenience achieve is incredible. It's like they're whispering in your ear, so close and gentle is it. They turn the crunchy frustration of the original into a wistful soliloquy, drifting gently on the breeze.

Download Kings Of Convenience 'Manhattan Skyline (A-ha Cover)' (indie, acoustic, mp3) (Mediafire)

Talking Heads 'Once In A Lifetime (Same As It Never Was) (Liquid People Dub)' (White Label, 2001)

Classic Talking Heads re-rubbed for the discerning dancefloor.

This take on on of Talking Heads' finest moments builds on the perpetual motion of the original with heavy filtering on the vocals, a nice repetitive 'blip', a lithe deep house rhythm.

Top piece of remix business.

Download Talking Heads 'Once In A Lifetime (Same As It Never Was) (Liquid People Dub)' (post punk, alternative, remix, mp3) (Mediafire)

Low 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me' (Chairkickers, 2001)

Almost impossibly fragile and desolate Smiths cover. 

It comes in gentle and broken - sounding like Roy Orbison just lost £200 on a horse and had to sell his dog - before building into a fit of cello-enhanced rage and dissipating again.

Low do a nice line in covers - check out their version of Joy Division's 'Transmission' and Toto's 'Africa' - and could make 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' sound like a wake. Consequently, their take on this Smiths classic takes bleak to a whole new level, the one where Codeine hang out.

It's a beautiful bleakness though.

Download Low 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me' (slowcore, postrock mp3s) (Mediafire)

Schmoov 'Playground' (DIY, 2001)

Elegant deep house mastery.

Building from a smattering of atmospheric playground chatter and a monumental bass progression, 'Playground' adds a slinky, mid-paced drum pattern and some sliding layers of lovely semi-dark synth.

It's Deep House in excelcis, melodies and curclicues firing off from the solid rhythmic undercarriage but still maintaining a minimal feel.

Schmoov were part of the Paperecordings scene, though this album - 'While You Wait' - was released on the DIY label.

Perfect Sunday morning fare. Enjoy.

Download Schmoov 'Playground' (deep house mp3) (Mediafire)

Le Tigre 'Deceptacon (DFA Remix)' (Chicks On Speed Records, 2001)

Deeply funky re-rub of Le Tigre's alternative dancefloor original.

The main mover in Le Tigre is/was Kathleen Hanna formerly of Riot Grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill and the inspiration for the title of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. The original version of 'Deceptacon' is a Joy Division-esque, driving alt-rock tune with a yelping, urgent vocal.

The DFA take the urgency and redirect it into a funkier direction, slow the vocal down a little and let the song breathe. You could still pogo to it if you really wanted to though.

Download Le Tigre 'Deceptacon (DFA Remix)' (post-punk-funk, DFA, remix, mp3) (Mediafire)

The Shipping News 'The March Song' (Quarterstick, 2001) (mp3)

Poised post-rock songsmithery from The Shipping News.

Clipped guitar and airy, martial drumming leads the way with curly bass action in the verses. Tension and volume builds through the bridge, leading to a burst of colourful guitar action.

The Shipping News and this album in particular generate some distinctly lovely soundscapes, marrying the Slint type spoken word wig-outs with the poise and elegant classicism of Rachel's (bassist Jason Noble's other band). The tension-release builds over and over until we reach the climactic finale and escalating guitar fireworks.

Download The Shipping News 'The March Song' (mp3) (TouchandGoRecords.com)

Schmoov 'Jazzing' (Paper Recordings, 2001)

Ah, the immersive wonders of a nice slice of deep house. I'm toying with the idea of creating a whole separate blog for deep house, jazz and my other musical loves that don't necessarily seem to fit here - but then again I like idea of an eclectic sprawl. But, which is best...?

Hmmm. Anyway, until I resolve that particular ideological puzzle, here's a very tasty treat from 2001.

Paperecordings was an awesome label with a real sense of event and design and some seriously good quality control. Schmoov delivered some very lovely twelve inches for Paper as well as a really good album for DIY.

'Jazzing' is the flipside of a 12" called 'Kiss It' and very slinky it is too. The pads ooze nicely and little twists of bass meander amongst the percussion. It burbles and mutates almost imperceptibly, engrossing you in its chunky deepness. A worthy companion to MJ Cole's 'Sincere'.

Enjoy and check out the 'While You Wait' album if you can find a copy second-hand.

Download Schmoov 'Jazzing' mp3

Schmoov 'While You Wait' on Discogs