Emotional Rescue Vinilo y CD

Review: Dropping just three EPs between 1982 and 1987, Takenoko were a true enigma in the heady rush of French new wave. This group from Bordeaux hit all the right notes, fusing choppy indie instrumentation with punchy synth lines and angular vocals - in a parallel universe they could have been huge. Emotional Rescue have done the right thing in bringing together their three EPs for this definitive introduction to a rare and righteous slice of underground arcana. Whether it's the breezy pop stylings of "Elle A Tokyo" or the slow, stomping funk of "Trans Amor Express," Takenoko are a joy to listen to for any new wave devotee.

Review: Emotional Rescue did the diggers another great service by gathering up the recorded material from Bordeaux synth-pop outliers Takenoko, and now they're sweetening the deal even further with this EP of wild style mixes from Dresden maverick Sneaker DJ. Picking three of the strongest tracks from the L'Amour Est Mon Arme collection, he comes up with three drastically diverse end results to suit the most adventurous selectors. The "Maquette" mix of "Lee Harvey Oswald" has a wonderfully lo-fi finish that accentuates the DIY new wave angles of Takenoko, while the "Traaans" mix of "Trans Amor Express" becomes a trippy, brittle beat excursion that should appeal to lovers of oddball 80s dub mixes. The "Dynamic" version of "John Wayne" finishes the record off in bombastic fashion, all boxy beats and powerful synth lines punching out underneath the quintessential wavey vocals.