Search - St Etienne :: Boy Is Crying (Pt.2)

Pre-Interlude

Anon. | Brooklyn, NY United States | 01/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I await with bated breath the soon-to-be-released 'Interlude' (a collection of tracks recorded during the same epoch as those featured on 'SOund of Water,' their most subtle/sublime record ever) ... I make do with this import EP which contains three tracks: the Hybrid mix of 'Boy is Crying,' the Si-Cut DB mix of 'Northwestern' and the Paul Van Dyk mix of 'How we used to live.' The first is (apparently) a longer version of the 'edit' which will appear on Interlude, although it is only 5.15 here! (I suspect the edit will simply excise the dreamy .45 prelude, no great loss.) It is more propulsive, less coy, than the original. Depending on my mood, this is a good/bad thing. 'Northwestern' is contained here in a terrific dub-style mix. Not having heard the original, I listen and imagine the heartbreak which this version keeps at bay but -- and this is crucial -- without entirely vanquishing. Fierce and sad in equal quantities, like 'Archway People.' The first 2.45 of the 8.48 Van DYke mix is mindless disco fun, which is OK but seems to have little relation to the original. WHen he finally begins sampling the vocals (3 minutes in) it momentarily seems all wrong. But when the beat kicks in (3.45) and the vocals are overlaid on them it suddenly lifts to heaven. Easily the best remix of this epic epic song."