Giant Disco Night (45:33) At My House In Miami

Six of the best from Pilooski aka Cédric Marszewski, remixing or re-editing to create an irresistible groove. 

Long overdue for a Dubhed selection, so consider this an appetiser for the main course, which will hopefully arrive in 2026 (!)

I was pretty sure that I'd shared the edit of GIANT by The The before, but I can't see that I have, and whilst I've posted Pilooski's previous work with/on Jarvis Cocker, this one's a first, as are the rest of today's picks.

1) GIANT (Pilooski Edit): The The (2007)

2) You're In My Eyes (Discosong) (Pilooski Remix): Jarvis Cocker (2009)

3) The Night (Pilooski Re-Edit): Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (2009)

4) 45:33 (Pilooski Remix): LCD Soundsystem (2009)

5) House Of The Truth (Pilooski Dub Version): Alexi Taylor (2022)

6) Miami (Pilooski Instrumental Dub): Baxter Dury (2023)

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes, Life Is Full Of Surprises

Alexis Taylor's new single came out at the weekend. On A Whim is a lovely slice of funky electro pop, but the masterstroke is when the chorus comes in, and the dulcet tones of Green Gartside takes the song into the stratosphere.

Alexis co-wrote the song with Green and Oliver Bayston and it's just wonderful, even if it does raise the question of when - if ever - we might hear new music from Green / Scritti Politti again. 

In the meantime, we can content ourselves with Alexis' current album, Paris In The Spring, released last Friday, and a fresh 2026 remaster of Scritti Politti's 1982 debut Songs To Remember.

Sometimes, things are too painful

For you to focus on what is real

They pull apart at your life as it turns

And the day-to-day becomes tender with burns

Something can still cause you pain

Even when you don't understand it or want it

To be a part of your makeup and brain

It doesn′t help you, help you explain

 

What if (what if, what if) you need this pain?

What if you need this pain?

What if (what if, what if) there is no shame?

 

Sometimes, life is full of surprises

And it's hard not to derail your brain

There's no hope in compromises

It ain′t pretty, but it fucks you all the same

 

On a whim, in a daze, in a day, in a way

On a whim, I could throw, throw it all away

On a whim, in a daze, in a day, in a way

I could throw, throw it all, throw it all away

 

What if (what if, what if) you need this pain?

What if you need this pain?

What if (what if, what if) there is no shame?

 

On a whim, in a daze, in a day, in a way

On a whim, I could throw, throw it all away (to feel nothing)

On a whim, in a daze, in a day, in a way

I could throw, throw it all, throw it all away (to feel nothing)

On a whim, in a daze, in a day, in a way

On a whim, I could throw, throw it all away (to feel nothing)

On a whim, in a daze, in a day, in a way

I could throw, throw it all, throw it all away (to feel nothing)

 

To feel nothing

A Dive Into The Mystery

I confess that it took a while for me to get into Hot Chip on account of Alexis Taylor's vocals. 

Described elsewhere as "clear voiced", for me it was definitely one for the "acquired taste" category. Hot Chip's music was so irresistible though that I'm happy to say that I acquired said taste and, more importantly, grew to appreciate what a great songwriter Alexis is in his own right.

He's about to prove it all over again with his sixth solo album, Paris In This Spring, appropriately enough landing in March.

First out of the door is Out Of Phase, a collaboration with Lola Kirke, whose few songs I've heard to date have been quite definitely contemporary country, with the requisite vocal stylings, so this song seems quite a departure in terms of genre and singing style.

In short, it's a banger. 

In typical Alexis/Hot Chip fashion, rather than an in-your-face dancefloor directive, the passive but short of insidious beats get into your system and your feet may start moving in synch with the music without instruction from your brain. Alexis and Lola's voice complement one another nicely and I've found myself sticking this on repeat.

Great video too, directed by Will Kindrick, and likely to be appealing to John Medd.

Paris In The Spring sees further collaborations with artists ranging from The Avalanches to Air’s Nicolas Godin, Ewan Pearson to Étienne De Crécy, Pierre Rousseau (Paradis) to Pale Bllue's Elizabeth White. 

The one that's got me really excited though is a rare sighting in the wild by Alexis' long-time friend Green Gartside.

There's currently no preview of On A Whim - side 2, track 2 on the vinyl edition - but if their previous collaboration from nearly a decade ago is anything to go by, it'll be pretty wonderful.

 

And I Feel And I Fear And I Feel And I Fear And I Feel And I Fear And I Feel And I Fear And I Feel And I Fear And I Feel And Fear And Feel That You’re Never Gonna Get It

Continuing yesterday's theme, HAAi aka Teneil Throssell was born in Karratha, Western Australia, is currently based in London and has been releasing music since 2017.

I have heard the name, have zero in my collection and jumped in at the deep end by watching her live performance of upcoming second album Humanise at Drumsheds, posted online on 1st October. 

The wonderfully evocative after hours 1990s office set grabs your attention, as do the rotation of guest 'co-workers' as the album plays out. None of that detracts from Humanise as an audio and lyrical narrative, however; musings on the meaning of humanity in an age where we are torn between virtual (digital) and actual (emotional) responses to the world around us.

If you're also new to HAAi, a 46-minute introduction might seem like too much in one go (it's not, and it's worth it, I promise you) so here's an appetiser, courtesy of lead-in single Can't Stand To Lose.

Alternatively, you can skip straight to a specific song via one of the timestamp links below.

00:00 Satellite (ft. Obi Franky & Trans Voices)

06:42 Stop The Clock

8:24 Printer

9:42 Go

13:59 Humanise

16:55 Rushing (ft. ILĀ & Trans Voices)

21:36 Shapeshift (ft. KAM-BU)

26:12 Voices (ft. Jon Hopkins)

31:01 Can’t Stand To Lose (ft. Alexis Taylor)

36:00 Baby We’re Ascending (ft. Trans Voices)

42:53 HQ (ft. Kaiden Ford)

Great timing for me, as Humanise is officially released on Friday (11th). 

Not so great timing, insofar as HAAi is at Rough Trade Bristol for an in-store appearance the same day...when I will be in another city - another county - altogether.