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Album Review

Various Artists
It’s The Taking Part That Counts: A Global Pop Sportsday Where It’s At Is Where You Are

Article written by Ged M - Jul 10, 2012

There are 2012 records on the Olympic playlist, most predictable and many shite (that Muse song shares the prize with those animated penises Wenlock and Mandeville for worst Olympic-themed tie-in). And then there are the 26 songs on WIAIWYA’s sporting-themed compilation (which comes in a choice of gold, silver and bronze packages) with a much higher quality threshold although, like certain Olympic events, you wouldn’t rush to hear some things here. Hawaii Fried Dough are instantly disqualified for their name (they’d have failed a drug test the night they chose that).

Otherwise there are some big names and some obscure ones all hymning the glory of a different Olympics event. Saint Etienne and White Town both offer theme tunes for athletics and weightlifting, the former winning by virtue of a jazzy noodle that could have graced schools programming in the 70s. There’s a proliferation of laptop pop, with Monster Bobby’s ode to football, complete with Desmond Tutu samples, and Ellis Island Sound’s elegant electropop both worth hearing. Floatation Toy Warning could have been in a medal position but for a terrible riverine pun on their kayaking-inspired wobbly electro. Town Bike’s ‘Tour De Force’ hurtles faster than Mark Cavendish on slick cobblestones, mixing Ramones with the Shop Assistants to make sweet punk-pop, while the glitschy electronic pop of The Leaf Library’s ‘Badminton’ also stands out. But medals go to The Vatican Cellars’ ‘A Palpable Hit’ (bronze), for writing graceful chamberpop specifically about fencing; One Fathom Down’s ‘Exodus’ (silver), a twangy Link Wray instrumental, which covers a 1960 film theme; and the High Barnets’ ‘Danny’s Got a Good Shot’ (gold), which represents the Butterflies of Love back to their pristine prime.

Compilations are always a matter of taste and this is as mixed as they come but the challenge of writing themed songs has sometimes brought out personal bests from our indie Olympians!

Links:
http://www.wiaiwya-itsthetakingpartthatcounts.blogspot.co.uk/