Love Is All - 'Love Is All Mixed Up' (EMI) Released 21/01/08

In the previous year or so, Love Is All have been a band doing their work in the background, making little impact on the mainstream scene but affecting those that listened, big time. Those that paid attention were so pleased with the likes of mini-indie hits ‘Make Out Fall Out Make Up’ and ‘Felt Tip’ that they simply had to re-make the songs in a matter of tribute – so many tributes that an album was made out of it. ‘Love Is All..Mixed Up’, with its clever title and so, is being seen as a simple gesture of pleasing the fans while the band move on to their second full-length record during 2008.

As remix albums seem to go these days, they come full of mediocrity and lack an edge that the original release had. Take the Bloc Party ‘Silent Alarm’ remix album for example, released a couple of years ago to receive a lack of purchases and a lack of appreciation, despite its innovative outlook. However, this record should be seen as an enjoyment, an album to sit back to and judge, or just to put on while you’re in the process of doing more important tasks. Remix albums aren’t released so that people can make notes on them, they’re made for the band and the fans, therefore this will please the thousands of fans interested in spending their Christmas money on this – it will be a worthwhile purchase.

All nine tracks on the album are fitting tributes, original takes on the original songs, and it’s easy to guess who did which song. On a first listen to the Maps remix of ‘Turn The Radio Off’, it’s easy to tell that it’s him giving the song a go. Those outstanding features of the bands that have made contributions to the record are very much evident. The Metronomy effort of ‘Spinning & Scratching’ is minimal - teasing the listener and although it’s not quite up to scratch with their ‘Foundations’ remix, this comes in at a respectable second place. The mixes of ‘Felt Tip’ are the most noticeably interesting, coming from Fryars and Hot Chip, they take the place of opening and closing tracks.

The opener is the highlight, although not the most original of pieces, it gives the song a different light – the electronic element does the song a favour. And that’s what remixes are all about, favours for favours, one of the best ways of showing your appreciation.