Everyone knows it: when Labrador says jump, I jump. And so it is again – they’ve announced their latest artist, Little Big Adventure, and an upcoming EP titled The Hateful Eye EP. Little Big Adventure demonstrates and further emphasizes Labrador’s foray into signing and releasing more electronic-style pop records, as can be heard on their recent 12″ Single by Pallers.

The group shares its name from a mid-90s PC/Playstation video game (perhaps a coincidence, perhaps not). But where Little Big Adventure the video game had music composed entirely by French composer Philippe Vachey, well-known for composing music for video games, Little Big Adventure the band is all Swedish. Naturally. You wouldn’t expect anything else from Labrador, now, would you?

States Magnus, the sole member of Little Big Adventure: All my music is about hate. I’m not buying it. This song does not sound angry or prejudicial, what you’d expect from music with the “HATE” stamp. If he’s telling the truth, hateful music never sounded so upbeat and pleasant!

Little Big Adventure: The Hateful Eye [mp3]

I recently stated in a review that numerous versions of the same song played consecutively can be a bit of a put-off. Then again, we all tend to say things that side on being hypocritical. Yesterday I was discussing how the concept of the “band shirt” could be ridiculous. It was then pointed out to me that having a button on the tweed jacket I often wear to work is no different. And, then again, today I find myself wearing a Voxtrot tee and cut-offs. Perhaps it is not necessarily hypocrisy but poor communication.

Punkdrömmar by [ingenting] (MySpace) is a single that requires me to take back that early statement concerning remixed songs. The three here are quite different from each other. The original song is one similar to the indiepop you’d expect from Labrador Records. It’s catchy and fun and super upbeat; though contrary much of the Labrador material it is not sung in English.

The two remixes that follow differ greatly from the original and each other. Enochson’s remix lifts the beasts and drowns much of the guitar in additional electronic elements. There is also a greater emphasis on the harmony vocals present but not in the forefront of the original. Wilkström’s remix is an epic 9 minute song that opens with heavy percussion (including cowbell) and trance-like electronics. This version rotates between three elements: minimalistic electronica with few traces of the original, heavy electronica with medium traces of the original, and blends of the original mix with little change—putting the three into a rotation that is unlike most remixes around.

When it comes down to it, remixed songs can be annoying—take the recent remix albums by Architecture in Helsinki and Stars as examples—but they do not have to be. If done right they can add depth to a track and bring out melodies and harmonies that once were hidden.

This review was originally published June 4, 2007 on the old version of FensePost.

[ingenting]: Punkdrömmar [mp3]

Labrador [Digital Single, 2007]

1. Punkdrömmar
2. Punkdrömmar [Enochson’s Remix]
3. Punkdrömmar [Wikström’s Remix]