Losing My Edge

Listening to the second overview from Trevor Jackson's Output label leaves one with the impression that post-rock has been all but left completely behind, in order to make room for a release schedule dominated by dance releases. In fact, the Boy Lucas' "There Are Great Monsters Going Past," the closing track on the disc, is the only one out of the 15 included that no DJ would ever spin. (Unless you count Rekindle's "Ice Skating Girl," a horrible, horrible dance-pop song, mistake or not). Some acts -- 7 Hurtz, Black Strobe, Circle Square -- show up again, but it's the newer names that contribute the standouts. Colder's "Crazy Love" is a stiff post-punk throwback with more than a few things in common with Joy Division songs like "Transmission" and "Heart and Soul." Jackson's own Playgroup provides the Zongamin remix of "Make It Happen," which is deeply indebted to late '70s/early '80s New York independents like ZE and 99. The label's connection to DFA is represented with LCD Soundsystem's "Losing My Edge" and The Rapture's "Olio," two tracks that also look more to the past than the future; if you ever wondered what a Marshall Jefferson production would've sounded like with the vocals of the Cure's Robert Smith on top, the latter is the closest you are likely to get. Criticize all you want, but Jackson and his pals were looking to this part of the past long before it became commonplace. ~ Andy Kellman