Search - Friendly Fires :: Bugged Out! Presents Suck My Deck

Friendly Fires have dance music in their blood. Other indie rock bands may flirt with club culture, but Ed Macfarlane (vocals, bass, synths), Edd Gibson (guitar) and Jack Savidge (drums) live it and breath it. When we formed the band one of the main things we wanted to do was make danceable music because dance music was one of the things we bonded over, explains Savidge. I mean, I've been DJing for longer than Friendly Fires has existed.' Indeed, it's no exaggeration to say dance music is one of the cornerstones of the UK three-piece's success. Their self-titled debut saw them sex up indie rock guitars with irresistible dance floor grooves. At the same time they have developed into a serious live pull thanks to a string of must-see festival appearances. Meanwhile, in clubland, they scored a major hit with the Aeroplane remix of 'Paris'.

This mix is expertly balanced, a deft combination of rock solid party tracks, such as 'City & Industry' by BDI and 'Coma Cat' by Tensnake, to the lush reflective sounds of 'Lost In The Streets of NYC (Boris Werner Lost In Malta Remix)' by Tom Trago and classic cuts like the Balearic favourite 'Din Daa Daa' by George Kranz. It's more of a party compilation than anything, but there's lots of variation too, says Savidge. Music for the dancefloor isn't as one dimensional as it's often painted. There's a lot of dance music that's thoughtful and sad. We wanted to combine that with some of the more banging stuff that's elsewhere in the mix.

One of the album's high points is Stay Here, collaboration between Friendly Fires and Toronto house crew Azari & Ill. Written exclusively for this compilation; it's a stunning fusion of classic house beats, spoken vocals from the band and a belting chorus from Macfarlane, with Azari & Ill providing the verse. Macfarlane, Gibson and Savidge were all big fans of the Canadians, playing the tracks 'Hungry For The Power' and 'Reckless With Your Love' in their respective DJ sets. Proceedings close with 'New Day' by Round Two, a blissful moment of bubbling synths and silky keys. It's easily among my favourite pieces of music of all time, and a complete no-brainer when it came to thinking of a closing record, says Savidge. A beautiful, beautiful song, the ultimate dancefloor tear-jerker.'

While they were programming their 'Suck My Deck' selection, they referred back to their favourite mixes, Ivan Smagghe's 2004 compilation for Bugged Out among them. That album is amazing, total genius, says Savidge. If ours is half as good as that, we'll be very happy. They can permit themselves a smile, then. lt's a winner.