When you need a precise demolition crew of beatmakers and disc jockeys to absolutely smash a party, there are a few cats in the game better than the Montreal tag-team of Dave 1 and P-Thugg, collectively known as Chromeo. Their mastery of early ‘80s disco tracks and funky synth beats have earned them a special and coveted spot in today’s music scene. It’s really no surprise that the peeps at !K7 records recently reached out and asked them to curate a compilation for their popular DJ-Kick series (a project formally helmed by the likes of Hot Chip and Tiga).
“First of all, we wanted to show share some rare and unusual gems from our record collection,” Dave 1 answers when asked about their methodology of attack for this particular compilation. “That’s always an important aspect whenever we do a mix CD: to show that we were record collectors before Chromeo even started, and to remind people that our band was borne out of us tirelessly listening to old records. Secondly, we wanted to weave in a theme, so we chose a bunch of Quebec funk. Finally, we included some nods to all our other influences, from Italo (Kano) to Rick James production (Val Young), to lite rock (Alan Parsons), to the Minneapolis sound (Donna Allen). Every song is in there for a reason”.
There are some terrific curveballs thrown in the mix that really show the latitude and depth of Chromeo’s musical knowledge. One of these unique surprises is a cover they did of the Eagles song, “I can’t tell you why,”- a remix that reveals some hidden soul behind the classic California “soft rock” band. “I heard it when I was getting a haircut,” Dave says. “I didn’t even know that song before. And it struck me as very Al Green-ish. We had to do an exclusive track for the DJ-Kicks project and we didn’t have new songs we could spare, so we decide do to a cover. And why not of a ballad? And why not by a classic rock band? It seemed like the least obvious thing to do…but subtly, it announces the perhaps deeper undertones that will lay hidden here and there on our next album.”
Yes, that’s right folks – you won’t have to wait too long for the next Chromeo LP. They are steadily working on their new album and are slated to have a new song out this Fall. As Dave 1 reports, “It’ll be a free download with video and remixes-type of situation. But yeah, we’re focused on the next record.”
In the meantime, after you take in the Chromeo DJ-Kicks compilation, and you still feel like need some more Chromeo flavor, here’s a little sampling of what the band members are bumping in their I-Pods right now and looking forward to in the near future. “Anything from the Fool’s Gold label, Kid Cudi, the new Vampire Weekend stuff and this French band whose new album I just produced called Adam Kesher,” Dave shares, “along with our new demos, Michael Jackson, and also lately, a little bit of Kiss.”
The new DJ-Kicks compilation drops on !K7 records on September 29th – be sure to scoop it up.
Words by Geo Hagan, photos by Angela Boatwright
