Album: Kitsune Maison Compilation 7

ALBUM REVIEW: Kitsune Maison Compilation 7 (La Roux, Phoenix, We Have Band)
words: Jamie Milton
originally scribed for thisisfakediy

Kitsune’s prominent role in the music industry should never be underestimated. That said, their compilations, growing in popularity and reputation by the second, are beginning to act as a casual name-drop of the most buzzed acts around, inferring who exactly you should be listening to. This is all well and good however, because those at the label have good taste and the acts on the compilation, for the most part, are worthy of the hype.

The impressive result of Compilation #7 is although it needn’t force itself to, it flows with such ease. Acting as a warm-up to a night out, the dance-inclined content doesn’t just consist at half-arsed attempts at lumping in some remixes to blog about. Remixes are of the highest quality, particularly the Classixx version of one of the singles of the year, Phoenix’s ‘Listztomania’, and the Yusek remix of a surprisingly underrated AutoKratz who for some time have been deserving of the kind of limelight La Roux, another worthy addition to the compilation, finds herself in.

As for fresh faces, the slowly-establishing We Have Band will enjoy some more word-of-mouth recommendations due to their inclusion of the frantic, obnoxious ‘Time After Time’. Men exemplify the perfect combination of style, swagger and substance in ‘Make It Reverse’. Crystal Fighters stick out like a sore thumb with ‘Xtatic Truth’, a full-on dance anthem with unique, spirited samples, MSTRKRFT-meets-a particular act that shares one half of their name. The Golden Filter, another act on the edge of every hipster’s lips, mix smooth, unalarming vocals with well-timed, rich rhythms – the sound of the bright future.

If anything, a compilation shouldn’t be analysed on merit of how well it flows, whether it has high points or low points, because surely any mistakes should be the artists’ responsibility, right? Well, no. Kitsune, unlike NOW 92 or any other former favourite at Woolworths, takes pride in providing the listener with a musical assault of the finest talent to go by their name, without any interruptions or jolts towards the skip button.
Viva la compilation.