ESL REMIXED - VARIOUS
Thievery Corporation is one of the most unheralded yet consistent groups in electronic music, and its label, ESL, releases fresh, fun and relatively kitsch-free lounge music that adults can buy with their heads held high. “ESL Remixed” is a great primer for the uninitiated, showcasing the best work from the label’s best artists in the hands of capable remixers. Every lounge construct gets its due, from jazzy ’40s scat (Ursula 1000’s “Boop”) to funky ’60s horns (Thunderball’s “Stereo Tonic”) to ’70s disco flutes (Ocote Soul Sounds’ “Tamarindio”). “The Heart’s a Lonely Hunter,” sung by none other than David Byrne and remixed by Grammy Award-winning house legend Louie Vega, is the collection’s only full vocal, but that doesn’t make it any less palatable. The ultimate apartment-party soundtrack. Billboard
