Anyone wanting a quick look at the hottest players in the modern alternative dance scene could do a lot worse than picking up a
Kitsuné Maison compilation. Beginning in the mid-2000s, the fashion label has been releasing records that have carefully selected the best and brightest artists playing straight club dance, progressive house (usually French), danceable indie rock, and updated synth pop.
Vol. 9 definitely lived up to the high level of quality previous volumes established, and along with being a snapshot of current trends, it played out as an excellent soundtrack for a night of good times. There are entries from around the world capturing many aspects of club/dance music (and not so clubby sounds like
Washed Out's dreamy bedroom electronic jam "Belong") that fit together almost perfectly. Highlights of the set are many, but a few standouts are
Hurts' wonderfully retro-
OMD meets
Pet Shop Boys "Wonderful Life" (here remixed by
Arthur Baker!),
Crookers' collabo with
Yelle on the bubbling "Cooler Couler," Gamble & Burke's '80s-funk channeling "Let's Go Together," and the many songs that capture the sweet spot between electro pop and indie rock that
Phoenix have made so popular (Jamaica's "Short and Entertaining," Your Nature's "Forward Motion,"
Fenech-Soler's "Stop and Stare"). ~ Tim Sendra