Thanks to Jezebell, the perfect soundtrack to the summer - any summer - has arrived, with their new compilation, Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2.
Barely a year ago, on receiving the vinyl edition of Volume 1, I wrote that
"Bearing
in mind that Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell released Jezebell's debut
single Thrill Me in 2021, issuing a 'greatest hits' in August 2023 and
labelling it 'Volume 1' may have seemed rather ambitious, cocky even.
Yet, even with a digital edition packed with 20 tracks, the duo still
had to leave out many mixes and versions that could easily have made the
cut. It's really that good."
So, given that it's a mere 23 months since Volume 1 landed, have Jesse and Darren chanced their arm with another 20-track collection, with over two and a quarter hours of music?
Not a chance. These guys know what they are doing, and the confident curation of tracks captures the head spinning prolificacy of this dynamic duo.
If evidence is needed, look no further than the fact that a quarter of the collection comprises brand new and exclusive tracks, opening with Movimento Lento, closing with Turn It Yes, and sprinkling Japaneasy, Red Black & Green and Geo Metric in the mix.
As ever, the pleasure of a Jezebell song is in repeated listening and whilst I've listened to Volume 2 a few times, I'm still nowhere near to unlocking the secrets of the new tracks, aside from Red Black & Green's pleasing hints of Zobi La Mouche by Les Negresses Vertes and the joyful voice of Yoko Ono in Turn It Yes.
What I will say is that the five new songs sit well with the previously released music, instantly recognisable as Jezebell, whilst continuing to push their sound forward, evolving into new shapes and forms.
There are also a couple of exclusive 2025 reworkings. This can often mean either a deep love for a piece of music, or a nagging dissatisfaction leading to a pull to tweak or correct the original work.
Jezebell originally remixed Submissive Background by Ian Vale in 2022 and I thought it was pretty damn good then. The '2025 Re-Remix' is essentially the same, but gives the music more muscle; the percussion positively booms from the speakers and the whole track sounds a little brighter, more confident of itself.
Dancing (Not Fighting) also appeated in 2022, a Jezebell EP built around a sample of Mick Jones from The Clash. The original came in four top notch mixes, In 2024 (to be precise, at 8:08 on 08/08), Jezebell released the 2-track 808 Day Exclusives EP, which included a remix of Dancing (Not Fighting). The 2025 remix appears to be a spruced up version of the latter, and is all the better for it.
I've referred to my previous notes for some choice comments on other tracks and remixes.
When I compiled a Jezebell selection, Clues To The Edit, last September, I referred to the 'Leave Your Lover' remix of Pandit Pam Pam's Pass A Wish "in sonic terms [as] equal parts chug and hug". Jezebell's 50 Ways Mix is cut from the same cloth, teasingly pleasing.
Two tracks from their Cream Tease EP have been included, which previously prompted me to comment that "You need more cheek than a Carry On film to name tracks Donkey and Hung, but they are bloody great" Yes. And then some!
I had a lot to say about the 2023's superb digital double pack EP Trading Places in 2023, not least for the '6PM' variation, including on the 'Daytime Versions' edition. Er, over to me.
"6PM
is a revelation. After a punchy start, insistent beats, keyboard stabs
and 1-2-3-4 sample, things really take an interesting turn at the 2:20
mark
with Siouxsie Sioux's distinctive vocals kicking in.
It's an
inspired move and one which takes the music to another level. The
longest track on both EPs at a smidge under seven and a half minutes,
it
feels like it could easily go on for twice as long."
Two years later and it's still a thrill to listen to.
Concurrence was an early release on When Disco Goes Wrong label in September 2021. In writing about the original version, I reflected that "To these ears, it's like hearing Sheila Chandra with John Bonham on drums and I can't get enough of it."
There were three additional remixes on the Concurrence EP, including one by Jesse with his 10:40 hat on, all excellent. In June 2022, an EP with four brand new remixes emerged, including the psychedelic epic included here by Akio Nagase.
Perfect
Din was an exclusive for last year's Shelter Me: In Crisis compilation. Par for the course with Jezebell's music, Perefct Din "got me scratching my head trying to work out what
samples [they'd] expertly woven into 408 seconds of groovy sounds."
Sailing through the rest of Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2, there's the stunning 'Jezebellfast Remix' of Fitzroy Avenue by Warriors Of The Dystotheque featuring Joe Duggan, which wasn't short of a decent remix, but really, this pushed things right out there.
Likewise, Bibbles by Andres Y Xavi, which started off excellent in 2023 and somehow got even better when Jezebell got their hands on it - not once, but three times - the following year.
I could go on, but I'll start retreading superlatives very soon. It's a testament to the power of Jezebell's sound and their refreshing approach to both their own and others' music that they can get away with two 20-track 'greatest hits' compilations in under two years.
Not only that, but the sequencing of the tracks is exemplary and the new songs on Volume 2, boldly proclaim that there's plenty more to come.
If all of the above hasn't had you rushing to snap up Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2 (and Volume 1, if you haven't already got it), then here's an open door. And they're both available as a 'name your price' purchase. What?!
Needless to say, if there is a vinyl edition of Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2 to follow, I will be there like a shot.
You did good, lads.
