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The new darlings of “gothic disco house”, this 5-piece band called Lesser Panda got all the hip credentials (they’ve worked with Hot Chip and played in warehouse parties in Hackney) so they’ve managed to get some hot remixers on this double a-sider.

On ‘Ghostdance’ they’ve got MoscoW (who’s already remixed Foals; better than the Hectic mix of ‘Cassius’?) to get onto the dance floor with Italo-Disco DFA sound warp and it’s a monster at 12 minutes long. The vocal snippets from lead singer Mariano Robles are a tad erqsome but the other band members, Chris Howarth (guitars/drums/synths), Ben Chatwin (guitars/synths), George McLeod (drums/synths) and Chris Fenner (bass/vox) make up for it with that indie meets Studio 54 crossover sound.

To give Mr. Robles some credit, the original versions with him singing are much better; even if ‘Carousel’ is Cure meets Human League meets ESG. But that’s not going to stop LEX Records’ Heartbreak (aka Ali Renault & Sebastian Muravchik and last seen on the Bowie Cover versions album, Life On Mars loving the alien) as they fully embrace the 80s synth pop heritage (ABC, Human League, Depeche Mode et al) and Giorgio Moroder.

On the last remix, it’s Drums Of Death. Not that Drums of Death the field recording of a funeral procession in central Ghana (released on Tzadik). No, this Drums Of Death is signed to the Berlin/London label Greco-Roman that produces tracks like tech house ‘Midnight Stalker’ (off the recent debut 12” Steps Into The Ring EP) or the Drums Of Death remix of Tricky’s ‘Council Estate’. Really Drums of Death should have done a remix of ‘Ghostdance’ but he’s got ‘Carousel’ in a head and feet spinning experience; Drums Of Death (aka Colin Bailey) sites early grime, Captain Beefheart and Egytian Lover as influences! Check out his myspace site for the incredible DOD mix he did for Rob da Bank’s show last week (that includes ‘Carousel’) and his other alta ego, Kid Twist (who released A Bionic Yell last year that was more than just an impressive cover).

Back to Lesser Panda, their modern take on Cope/Bauhaus/Velvet Underground may not have a ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’ in them just yet, but they’ll be playing venues bigger than Bar Rumba in the near future so catch them while you can.

Lesser Panda Live Gigs
6th Oct- Clash Magazine Showcase at ‘In The City’ - Studio, Manchester
7th Oct - The Legion - Shoreditch, London
28th Oct - Clash Live - Hoxton Bar & Grill, London
14th Nov - City Lights - Bar Rumba, London

Reviewed: Lesser Panda - Ghostdance/Carousel (Superdark) Cat. No. B001GCWR7K Release date: 13th October 2008
1. Ghostdance (4:17)
2. Carousel (4:07)
3. Ghostdance (MoskoW Remix) (12:00)
4. Carousel (Drums Of Death Remix) (5:18)
5. Ghostdance (Heartbreak Remix) (6:13)

Links:
www.lesserpanda.co.uk
www.myspace.com/lesserpandamusic
www.myspace.com/heartbreak1
www.myspace.com/drumsofdeath4eva
www.grecoromanmusic.com
www.myspace.com/grecoromanmusic
www,myspace.com/robdabank
Rob da Bank & Friends : 13th October 2008 :: Drums of Death vs The Heatwave
www.clashmusic.com/feature/kid-twist
www.myspace.com/kidtwistmusic
www.l-o-a-f.com
www.myspace.com/loafrecordings
www.myspace.com/foals