Jape: Words or actions intended to excite laughter or amusement.
And with this 3 track single from Irish based Richie Egan, its quite clear that it is Jape by name, Jape by nature.
"I Was A Man" however, is a song that doesn't really offer much in the realms of amusement at all. It is a simple song (maybe to simple) with a beat structure and vocal style that would not sound out of place on a Hot Chip album. In fact if I didn't know any better I would have thought it was them. It lacks any sort of depth that a guy and a laptop just cant always offer.
The remixes on the single are different story altogether. The JXL remix being the most intense. Kicking in with a thump that threatens to destroy even the best speakers makes me wish that this was the single instead. With a Daft Punk-esc grooving disco vibe this is without a doubt the standout track of the 3. Tacking what Richie had already crafted and giving it a boost gives this track the beats it was lacking just on its own. Track 3, Phones Remix, does the same. This version being more worthy of the Friday night clubbing scene. With beats of a more danceable nature it really does give you more than the single alone.
In the immortal words of Meat Loaf, Two Out of Three Ain't Bad. And that's my final verdict for this release. The additions of the two pumping tracks salvage what would have been just an average single and with summer fast approaching, makes this something worth listening to.
review by Gavin
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JAPE - I Was A Man
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