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Leave Them All Behind
words by Stuart Stubbs

Dance music has had a long and varied life. It nearly disappeared down its own throat once or twice, chasing doves to its welcoming belly, in a field off the M25. But time and again, it has clawed itself back from the brink of fatal over indulgence, refusing to go quietly into the night, quite literally.

Today, the genre has been mashing up new indie anthems and it feels good. ‘Leave Them All Behind’ celebrates the perfect marriage between guitars and turntables, causing neighbours to thump on the walls of the debauched newlyweds.

A Phones mix of The Rakes’ ‘Retreat’ instantly shows the diversity that dance floor mixes provide. Its downbeat electronica manages to crystallize Alan Donohoe’s vocals, making every syllable audible for the first time.

Has dance really matured this much? Yes, it really has! And what’s more, is ‘Leave Them All Behind’ knows when to ‘leave them all alone’, refusing to cut and paste tracks seemingly perfect for the dance floor already. The Longblondes, Tom Vek, The Cazals, and The Killers all boast originals in the collection, amongst those head-butting Cut Copy, Tiga and Jagz Kooner mixes square in the face. But it’s just a lovers tiff. Everything on ‘Leave Them All Behind’ is meant to be.

Dance music is nowhere near over and judging by its newfound sense of place, its indie reincarnation has given it all the life it needs to ward off the deathbed for another lifetime.

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