Ming - formerly Les Brochettes - are Belgian practitioners of the retro-electro-mechanical-pop sound, synching up bright, poppy formats with an eighties synth-heavy vibe and rigid, Kraftwerkian electronics.
Comprised of 'Little Woman' Frederique and 'Tall Boy' Nicolas, the pair have been active on the European avant scene for some time, using a mix of old synths, casios, ancient rhythm boxes and some modern equipment to create a half-serious, half-flippant brand of electro-pop that's immediate and appealing.
After releasing carefully constructed nuggets like their Miso Mix and Interieur/Exterieur LP's and their Un Gout Exquis single, this latest addition to the Ming dynasty sees their Interieur/Exterieur project remixed by a selection of European digital troubadours as well as by a group of new faces who were offered the chance to submit remixes via a public contest.
The main CD contains ten tracks reworked by known producers. Leo De Leonard adds a pixellated, grainy edge to 'La Ballade De Johnny Guitar', Marcel Janovsky takes on 'Chanson De La Plus Haute Tour' while labelmate Hans Platzgunner turns 'Liebe Ist Kalter Als Der Fod' into a loping post-rock behemoth.
Rework resculpt 'Il Continente Mentale' into a pseudo-techno outing, Barbara Morgenstein issues forth a lively, subtly trance-fuelled and nicely fragmented breakbeat outing, and Ruth and Richard remix another light-hearted track, 'Sentir Et Analyser'
There's a good mix of the insouciant and the gravity-stricken here, with equal amounts of fey kitsch-beat and floor-grindin' riddims, but all tracks are connected through Ming's unique sound.
Perhaps the biggest surprise, and an equal cause for celebration, is the extremely high standard of the second CD. Featuring bedroom talent like Missing Person, Nikita Mori, Caprimat and Dex Turner, it's a welcome and healthy addition to the main album with many excellent moments.
All in all, another good looking Minger.
