New Feist Remix LP: Open Season
So while we’ll still have to wait patiently for Feist’s next album, which is due out later this year, the indie-pop princess has released a “remixes and collabs” compilation to tide us over in the meantime. Open Season, as it’s called, compiles remixes and collaborations (as the subtitle of the album implies) as well as reworked versions of songs found on Let It Die, and “Tout Doucement”, a song previously available only on the French release of Let It Die. Though Pitchfork reported a different, 13-song tracklist, the version I’ve got comes with 15 songs, four of which are “Mushaboom” remixes. I only got the album yesterday, so I’ve only given it a couple of preliminary run-throughs, but it was the aforementioned “Mushaboom” remixes that immediately jump out at me, and since there pretty much isn’t a single person on the planet that doesn’t like “Mushaboom”, I decided I might as well throw those remixes up here for your consumption.
Everyone’s already heard (and loved) the Postal Service’s treatment of “Mushaboom” (which hopefully many of you enjoyed on 4/20), and I personally think it’s the finest remix of 2006 to this point. However, also present are three other remixes, courtesy of Mocky, Toronto rapper K-Os, and VV, the remixing name of Renaud Letang and Gonzalez, the duo behind the production of Let It Die (who will also be producing the upcoming album), and all three give “Mushaboom” completely different treatments. Mocky’s mix, my favorite of the three, opens with the crunch of footsteps in the snow and turns “Mushaboom” into a much funkier, jazzier romp, while K-Os gives the track street cred with a hip-hop beat and a rapped verse of his own. Finally VV take the song, transpose a dance beat onto it, and add an addictive synth line to the already addictive hook of the chorus. None of them come close, however, to the glitch-pop perfection that is the Postal Service’s take on the original, but they’re all good no less and are worth checking out below.
Open Season hits stores Tuesday in the US and Canada (but is already available on iTunes in Canada here), so be sure to check it out.
MP3s:
“Mushaboom” (Postal Service Remix) - Feist
“Mushaboom” (Mocky Mix) - Feist
“Mushaboom” (K-Os Mix) - Feist
“Mushaboom” (VV Mix) - Feist

April 23rd, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Aw sweet, that k-os remix is great! I don’t usually like remixes, but I’m glad Feist didn’t pull a DFA79 and have a whole album of remixes for the same 4-5 songs. That was pretty redundant.
Anyway, I still have to check out that Postal Service one, so thanks!
April 24th, 2006 at 2:22 am
Wow, hadn’t heard that K-Os remix before and I really love it! The Mocky one is a favorite of mine too (and he does a really great job mixing Inside & Out as well). Not such a large fan of the VV remix (though it is interesting to know who exactly the duo is), but I really really love their remix of One Evening — probably my favorite Feist remix so far.
Anyway, thanks for the great post — can’t wait to buy the album. What’s the rest of the actual track listing?
April 24th, 2006 at 7:44 am
wow! mushaboom has postal service remix!!!?
April 24th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
Feist bores me to death… thank God for these remixes… especially the Ewan Pearson/Al Usher one.
April 24th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
The postal service remix is terrible in my opinion. Offers nothing new but Ben Gibbards trademark whine over Feist’s remarkable vocals.
I guess if you want to hear a contrast between an amazing artist and an irksome one, listen to that song.
The Mocky and K-OS remixes however, are great.
April 24th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
The Postal Service mix IS pretty bad. I like the Mocky one, personally. The tracks are also available from Gallery AC.
May 1st, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Hey, you said this is coming out in the US on tuesday, but I’ve read that it is only available in the US? Will I have to order this oneline?
May 1st, 2006 at 6:55 pm
to anonymous, i got my cd in canada, so i’m sure you won’t have to order online. just thought i’d let u know.
May 5th, 2006 at 3:31 am
yeaaa but I don’t live in Canadia….hence I will not be able to get the CD.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:53 am
I found the cd in Belgium so I’m sure you will be able to find and buy it wherever you’re from