The fault doesn’t lie with Metronomy, but the chosen remixes can’t match what was already created. Psychemagik gives the single an cosmic sendoff with twinkling keys, the magic of Clifford’s inclusion lost to moments of twisted vocals distorted into a foreign tongue. Jesse Rose works with the shell of the song, adding quiet trills, voluminous drums, and flairs of horn-like effects.

“Everything Goes My Way” gets an after-hours dark side by way of Pearson. The subtle addition of electronic drums and chilled drops of keys flourish into a suitably prominent ending, with instrumentals transforming to underlay Clifford’s smooth oooh’s. But the places where Pearson succeeded in creating a remix opener are later lost in a dub version that tosses away much of the main vocals in favor of groovy keys and an eruption of drums. After essentially listening to the same song four times, a drab closer that’s basically instrumental is a perfect moment for listeners to exit early from the recording.

A remix album isn’t meant to upstage the original but rather complement what has already been created. This EP is a mixed bag with no one particular remix really stealing the show. Metronomy’s brand of bouncy electropop is perfect for a series of reworks, but it requires the right elements, none of which are found here.

Essential Tracks: “Everything Goes My Way” Ewan Pearson remix

Canadians Sultan and Ned Shepard rework “The Edge Of Glory” to make it ready for a lounge, until they sample Guns ‘N Roses’ “Sweet Child Of Mine”, making the song into a fist-pumping anthem. Even though Foster the People’s consistently thumping, formulaic version gratifies more instantly, it’s clear who’s really on the edge of let’s-hear-that-again glory. The juxtaposition of “You And I”, on the other hand, is more evenly weighted: both Wild Beasts and British electronic duo Metronomy slow it down and space it out, the former adding sparse piano, while the latter relies on cut-up, auto-tuned Gaga samples to highlight her voice’s Whitney Houston-like richness and honky-tonk lyrics.

Other songs stand alone, both in quantity and quality. Two Door Cinema Club brands “Electric Chapel”, mixing it into a hauntingly guilty pleasure for dancing alone in your room. British producer Michael Woods, who has previously remixed La Roux and Deadmau5, reworks “Black Jesis/Amen Fashion” with appropriately catwalk-hard beats. Remix’s hidden gem, however, is French DJ Guena LG’s remix of “Scheisse”. The song builds behind Gaga’s delicious German into an “oh-AH-oh” chorus that dissolves all too quickly into its driving, industrial beats. It’s hard to compete with the Queen Monster, but these artists were born for it.

Essential Tracks: “Scheisse”, “Electric Chapel”

Lady Gaga has unveiled the tracklist for her upcoming Born This Way remix album and it comprises a lot of familiar names. Due for release on November 21st via Interscope, the 14-track compilation features contributions from The Weeknd, Foster The People, The Horrors, Wild Beasts, Röyksopp, Goldfrapp, and Twin Shadow, among others. Below, you can check out Wild Beasts’ remix of “Yoü & I”, along with the full tracklisting.

The remix album will be available as both a standalone release and as part of a three-disc set titled The Collection, which also includes a live film and the original Born This Way album.

“Yoü & I” (Wild Beasts Remix)

Born This Way: The Remix Tracklist:
01. Born This Way (Zedd Remix)
02. Judas (Goldfrapp Remix)
03. The Edge of Glory (Foster the People Remix)
04. Yoü And I (Wild Beasts Remix)
05. Marry the Night (The Weeknd & Ilangelo Remix)
06. Black Jesus (Michael Woods Remix)
07. Bloody Mary (The Horrors Remix)
08. Scheiße (Guena LG Remix)
09. Americano (Gregori Klosman Remix)
10. Electric Chapel (Two Door Cinema Club Remix)
11. Yoü And I – (Metronomy Remix)
12. Judas (Hurts Remix)
13. Born This Way (Twin Shadow Remix)
14. The Edge of Glory (Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix)
15. Judas (Röyksopp’s 30 Pieces Mix) (iTunes Bonus Track)

The album is full of these little nods. “Everything Goes My Way” and “The Bay” begin with keyboard parts that could accompany a kind of demonic Punch and Judy performance; the high-pitched, dawdling, mellotron-like synth melody of “Loving Farm” sounds like, if it isn’t referencing that idea directly, it’s at least appropriating it for the purposes of catchy pop. Perhaps the same could be said for “Some Written”, the light vibrato on its piano conjuring faint images of the seaside. Because of all this, the album feels playful and childlike. ‘The Look” and “We Broke Free” typify the album’s “bounce”, its willingness to indulge in light-heartedness perfectly.

In that sense, The English Riviera is nicely in line with a tradition of British psychedelia that saw Syd Barrett lead Pink Floyd with songs like “See Emily Play”and “Arnold Layne”, and Blur get away with instrumental fanfares like Parklife’s ‘The Debt Collector” and “Lot 105″. It’s fair to say that because of this tradition (and also the language associations of the album’s name), this album feels “English”: It has a sense of Englishness that people might associate with Pulp, The Kinks, early Pink Floyd and Blur, and maybe even The Beatles.

Of course, Metronomy have never been a Britpop band: They deal in electronica. Fans of their first two albums won’t be disappointed to know that the engine here is still a mix of gently pulsing drum beats and keyboards played to a decent, genre-defined tempo. But there does seem to be something a little more English about this album than others. It’ll be interesting to see if this gets Metronomy more fans in their homeland and whether that changes their fanbase.

The nominees for 2011 were announced earlier this morning and notables include Adele’s 21, PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake (she previously won in 2001 for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea), James Blake’s self-titled debut, and Tinie Tempah’s Disc-Overy. You can check out the complete list of nominees below.

The winner will be announced on September 6th and along with bragging rights, the prize includes £20,000.

Also, per At Ease, an interesting tidbit: Though Radiohead has never won the Mercury Prize, The King of Limbs is the band’s first album since Kid A to not receive a nomination.

Mercury Prize 2011 Nominees:
Adele – 21
Ana Calvi – Ana Calvi
Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys!
Everything Everything – Man Alive
Ghost Poet – Peanutbutter and Melancholy Blues
Gwilym Simcock – Good Days At Schloss Elmau
James Blake – James Blake
Katy B – On A Mission
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mines
Metronomy – The English Riviera
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy

With their third album, La Liberación, out on Cooperative Music this August, Brazilian electro-rockers CSS are in promotion mode big-time. But with their U.S. tour set to wrap at the Metro in Chicago tomorrow night, the group is going to need a new way to generate some buzz. Proving themselves to be genius yet decidedly wholesome entrepreneurs, the five-piece have put together a mixtape entitled Songs for Cooking.

As if the title wasn’t obvious enough, it’s a playlist that lasts long enough (just under 50 minutes) to cook the band’s “Heavy Chocolaty Cookies That Will Remain Melted Inside Until Few Days Later” cookies (did Mrs. Fields ever bake those?). Said mix features delectable sonic offerings from L7, Ratatat, Dinosaur Jr., The Kills, Metronomy, and many more. Now, put on your best apron, crank those tunes, and channel Julia Child while you jam out. Bon appetit!

Check out the mix, the tracklist, and the recipe below. La Liberación hits stores August 29th via the Cooperative Music network.

Check Out:
“Songs for Cooking”

Pesacov is joined by Luke Top and other musicians who have played with bands like We Are Scientists and the Fall. The sound on the band’s self-titled debut is global in its reach. With American indie rock meeting the pop workings of Argentina and beyond, it’s American world music done with an international tinge. Their video for the song “Surprise Hotel”, which moves along with a rhythm culled from Paul Simon via Graceland, features elderly food fights, dogs, bikini clad sax players, and tons of other stuff you’d expect to see in a wacky Dutch student art film possibly influenced by Weekend At Bernie’s. And if that weren’t enough, the band hit the road last week for a two-month long adventure with Metronomy alongside Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros.

The self-titled debut is out now on IAMSOUND!

Fool’s Gold 2009 Tour Dates:
10/08 – La Jolla, CA @ The Loft – UC San Diego ^^^
10/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy Theatre ^^^
10/10 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill ^^^
10/11 – Portland, OR @ Holocene ^^^
10/12 – Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge ^^^
10/13 – Vancouver, BC @ The Red Room ^^^
10/16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo
10/17 – New York, NY @ Cake Shop w/ Lemonade
10/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Sycamore
10/19 – New York, NY @ Knitting Factory w/ Ocote Soul Sound
10/21 – New York, NY @ Bowery Poetry Club – IAMSOUND CMJ Showcase
10/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Westfield Century City – KCRW’s World Music on the Terrace
11/10 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley ***
11/11 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club ***
11/14 – Charlottesville, VA @ IS Venue ***
11/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church ***
11/16 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat ***
11/17 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ***
11/21 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street Downstairs ***
11/22 – Burlington, VT @ Club Metronome ***
11/23 – Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus ***
11/24 – Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo Club ***
11/27 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall ***
11/28 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon ***
11/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater ***
12/01 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater ***
12/02 – Telluride, CO @ Sheridan Opera House ***
12/10 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall ***

^^^ – with Metronomy
*** – with Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros

Busdriver 2009 Tour Dates:

In support of his latest studio album, Jhelli Beam, Regan Farquhar, aka Busdriver, will hop on the tour bus later this month (pun intended) to embark on a month long North American. Joining the hip-hopper for the cross country trek will be fellow LA rapper and Good Life Café/Project Blowed alumnus, Abstract Rude. Tickets for select dates are available via Ticketmaster.com.

08/28 – Sacramento, CA @ Blue Lamp *
08/29 – Portland, OR @ Rotture *
08/30 – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey *
08/31 – Bellingham, WA @ Nightlight *
09/01 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club *
09/03 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux *
09/04 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
09/05 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird *
09/06 – Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot *
09/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock *
09/08 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *
09/09 – Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Tavern *
09/10 – Columbus, OH @ Circus *
09/11 – Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo *
09/12 – Montreal, QC @ Il Motore *
09/14 – Boston, MA @ Middle East *
09/15 – New York, NY @ Santos Party House *
09/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kungfu Necktie *
09/18 – Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head *
09/19 – Washington, DC @ DC9
09/20 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 *
09/22 – Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light *
09/23 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree *
09/25 – Dallas, TX @ Cavern *
09/26 – Austin, TX @ Red 7 *
09/27 – Houston, TX @ Walter’s *
09/28 – San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit *
09/30 – El Paso, TX @ Black Market *
10/01 – Phoenix, AZ @ Club Red *

* = w/ Abstract Rude

The Revival Tour 2009 Tour Dates:

The second annual Revival Tour is set to launch on October 13th in Louisville, Kentucky and will run until November 21st before ending in St. Petersburg, Florida. Drawing from a diverse group of established musicians in indie Americana, rock, punk, Irish folk, Cajun, zydeco and blue, this year’s edition will feature the talents of Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan, Avail’s Tim Barry, Frank Turner, The Loved One’s Dave Hause, Sparta’s Jim Ward, and others. Tickets will go on sale beginning Friday, August 7th via Ticketmaster.com.

10/13 – Louisville, KY @ Skull Alley
10/14 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
10/15 – Richmond, VA @ The Downstairs Lounge
10/16 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
10/17 – New York, NY @ Blender Theatre
10/18 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes
10/19 – Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East
10/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
10/23 – Pontiac, MI @ Eagle Theatre
10/25 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club
10/26 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
10/28 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
10/29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
10/31 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
11/01 – Portland, OR @ Berbati’s Pan
11/05 – Sacramento, CA @ Blue Lamp
11/06 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
11/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Red Theatre
11/08 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
11/09 – Las Vegas, NV @ Beauty Bar
11/10 – Tempe, AZ @ The Sets
11/12 – El Paso, TX @ Take 2
11/13 – Austin, TX @ Red 7
11/14 – Dallas, TX @ The Door
11/15 – Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom
11/16 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe
11/17 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
11/18 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Cafe
11/19 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
11/20 – Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds
11/21 – St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
11/22 – Orlando, FL @ The Social

Fool’s Gold 2009 Tour Dates:

On September, the 10-person Los Angeles collective known as Fool’s Gold will unveil its debut self-titled full-length. In support of the release, the outfit has mapped out a few U.S. tour dates, highlighted by a west coast trek with Metronomy in October and a five night stint in New York shortly thereafter (venues to be announced).

08/22 – Sliver Lake, CA @ Sunset Junction Street Fair
09/19 – Chicago, IL @ World Music Festival
09/20 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge #
10/03 – Joshua Tree, CA @ Manimal Festival
10/08 – La Jolla, CA @ The Loft *
10/10 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill *
10/11 – Portland, OR @ Holocene *
10/12 – Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge *
10/13 – Vancouver, BC @ The Red Room *
10/15-20 – New York, NY @ TBA

# = w/ BLK JKS
* = w/ Metromnomy