Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself
Can’t leave bloggin’ alone, the game needs me. We resume our regular programming today and I’ve got a post chock full of hotness for you today. Let’s start by getting back to what I do best: keeping you posted on all the latest Bloc Party news as it breaks. First, of all: Did I not tell y’all it was gonna be the best thing ever? I wasn’t kidding when I said it was going to be absolutely massive and it is, though I’m reserving final judgement as these leaked tracks are yet to be mastered (hence the volume issues and low bass portions on some of the tracks). Lead UK single, “The Prayer” has proven to be the early favorite of many, and I’ve been hotly anticipating news of the single release’s b-sides and remixes. Before I get into that, let me give people the opportunity to hear it first. Most of you have probably noticed VICE’s all-over-it-ness when it comes to shutting down posted tracks, so I’m obviously not able to post the download, but VICE has been kind enough to provide us with a stream of the official track, which you can listen to here. Furthermore, they found it in their hearts to hook us up with an mp3 of Kele discussing the track as well, which you can check out below.
MP3: Kele Okereke on “The Prayer”
In other Bloc Party news, BlocParty.net has put together a Bloc Party covers project, titled Blag Party, and is encouraging the musically inclined to submit their own covers of any Bloc Party song, the best of which will be picked for inclusion on the Blag Party compilation CD that will eventually be sent to the band themselves. If this sounds like your kind of thing, send all entries to blogparty@blocparty.net. Take your time though, there’s no deadline as of yet. The best news though, is that the first cover has trickled in and it’s absolutely fantastic. Slowbear The Great (née Joe O’Callaghan) gets the project off to a great start with his extremely impressive cover of “Banquet”. Taking a completely different approach from the orginal, Slowbear combines his acoustic fingerpicking and smokey, double-tracked vocals to reinvent the original in his own, chilled-out way.
MP3: “Banquet” - Slowbear The Great
But the big news of the day his the announcement of the details of “The Prayer” UK single release. “The Prayer” will see release on Wichita in the UK on January 29th and will come in three action-packed formats as well as a download bundled with exclusive remixes. Check out the details below, and be sure to view the recently-revealed album cover art (which I love) here. Thanks to James at Blog Party for the info.
CD-Single
1. “The Prayer” [stream]
2. “We Were Lovers”*
3. “The Prayer” (Phones Full Metal Jackin’ Mix)*
7″ One
A. “The Prayer”
B. “England”*
7″ Two
A. “The Prayer”
B. “The Prayer” (Version 2)
Download Bundle:
1. “The Prayer”
2. “The Prayer” (Para One Remix)
3. “The Prayer” (Break & Silent Witness Remix)
4. “The Prayer” (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)
*FUCK YESSSS
Seriously, I couldn’t ask for better news as far as the b-sides are concerned. The live versions I have of both “England” and “We Were Lovers” (formerly titled “Blue Moon” and “Cells Shaped Like Stars”, respectively) were both incredibly promising, and I was gutted to hear that they didn’t make the final cut for the album. Thank god then for single release and b-sides; hear the live versions for yourself below. Keep an ear out for that awesome, “In our bodies! In our bodies!” chorus in “We Were Lovers”.
MP3s:
“England” (Live @ Fabric) - Bloc Party
“We Were Lovers” (Live @ Fabric) - Bloc Party
As far as the remixes go, HOW EXCITED ARE WE ABOUT PHONES?! First of all, the “Full Metal Jackin’” title is so bad ass I don’t even know what to do with myself. As if I didn’t already worship Paul Epworth enough already. Second of all, the remix itself is awesome. I actually stumbled upon it by complete luck two days ago as Phones quietly made it available on his MySpace site for streaming. I ripped the audio and actually have a pretty great MP3 of the track, but considering the way VICE and Wichita have been policing the tracks pertaining to this release I’ll have to forgo posting it here. Instead, get over to Phones’ MySpace as soon as possible and feel the hotness for yourself. When Epic Man first saw the light of day on Phones’ ‘Space at the end of last summer the header read “Phones is dead”. Now, with the recent posting of this new remix the header reads “Phones IS back”, and indeed he is, dropping his hottest mix of 2006 on the track. In my opinion, Phones’ masterwork is still his incredible “Wolves At The Door” mix for the Futureheads on “Hounds of Love”, with his remix of “Never Felt Like This Before” for Shaznay Lewis (of All Saints fame), coming in at a close second. Grab them both below, and if you haven’t already done it, get to Phones MySpace NOW and stream his new Bloc mix. Anyone feeling a bit of a Simian Mobile Disco influence in “The Prayer” remix, or is that just me?
MP3s: ((both highly recommended))
“Hounds of Love” (Phones Wolves At The Door Mix) - The Futureheads
“Never Felt Like This Before” (Phones Volt Version) - Shaznay Lewis
Concerning the other remixes, I’ve never heard of Breaks & Silent Witness or Does It Offend You, Yeah?, but I’m definitely psyched to find out what Para One can do with the track. Only thing is, if you’re going to get a hot Parisian DJ to remix “The Prayer”, WHY THE FUCK ISN’T IT JUSTICE. Pardon me if I’m overreacting, BUT THEY’RE ON THE SAME FUCKING LABEL [in the US] FOR CHRIST SAKE. Ever since I heard “The Prayer” I knew it was begging to be Justified by the French DJ’s, and I mean, shit - there was no reason it couldn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, Para One is great (I mean just watch his music video for “Dudun Dun”), but I’d just had my fingers crossed about this whole Justice thing for a while now, and to find out they picked someone from Ed Banger [UPDATE: I’m wrong here, Para One’s on Institubes - minus fifteen scene points for me] that’s not Justice is just frustrating. But anyway, here are some Para One tracks for the uninitiated (I’m preferring the MSTRKRFT mix, though), and see you guys tomorrow with some more dancy goodness*.
MP3s:
“Dudun Dun” - Para One
“Dudun Dun” (MSTRKRFT Remix) - Para One
*If you haven’t already gathered, I’m into the more electronic side of things recently; I hope that’s cool with everyone. Worry not though, tomorrow’s update should appeal to everyone.