Van She – V.

Van She’s (myspace) widely-anticipated debut, V, dropped over the weekend.

To say I’m a massive fan of these guys would be a massive understatement, so frankly, a turd wrapped in tin-foil would have done. Thankfully, V is much more.

First of all, this is pop, people. Yes, there are definite shoegaze moments and even some roaring guitars at some stage (ie.’The Sea’). But overall, Van She have crafted a mainstream-ready, incredibly subtly produced, pop record. And I like it.

Does this mean it’s in ‘guilty pleasure’ territory?

Second, Van She aren’t a hype band anymore. After their two EPs and a slew of Van She Tech remixes (one of which now features on a Onelove compilation), there was a dangerous risk the band would fall into blog-hype territory and never recover. Then they launched a tour entitled ‘Van She Party’. But they’ve come good in the end.

Third, there’s a rejig of ‘Kelly’ on the record. Tell me I’m not alone on this — the original was way better?

Anyway. I’ve listened to it three times today and have no reason to stop.

Track: Van She – Strangers (listen).

Van She – Strangers.

The new track (and remixes) from Van She (myspace) exploded onto blogs yesterday, making easy fodder for what would otherwise be a slow news day (all bloggers love their mothers). I’m a huge fan of the Sydney-fashionista-shoegaze-electro movement, and remember an entire summer spent listening to Van She’s enormous debut EP, which featured the highly memorable ‘Kelly’ and ‘Sex City’. Then there was what seemed like an endless plethora of Van She Tech remixes spewed forth, turning The New Sound of Trash into an almost exclusive VST remix show, adjectives like ‘dirty’, ‘electro-filth’ and ’sexcore’ abounded.

‘Strangers’ is a return to the classic Van She form though, with instruments real and electronic blending into a perfect meld of sound and style.

Track: Van She – Strangers (Yuksek Remix) (listen at Havefunclub and enjoy the 320kbps-ness).

Van She Technologic.

Hot on the heels of their ‘Cat & the Eye’ tour, Van She, in their Van She Tech (myspace) guise, are set to release a one-year-old remix of Utah Saints’ ‘Something Good’. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not raggin on this remix, it really takes me back to the glory days of Van She Tech — remixing Sneaky Sound System, Feist, Dragonette, Teenager etc. But what this post is really about is this video:

Crazy.

EDIT: Van She Tech are most definitely back. I don’t know where this stuff is coming from, but it is nu-rave and I love it.

Track: Ladyhawke – Back of the Van (Van She Tech Turbo Fire Engine Mix) (listen).

Track: Melinda Jackson – Fall In Love (Van She Tech Remix) (listen over at Check the Availability).