A TOUCH OF CLASS - STILL SUCKS!


A Touch Of Class Sucks! the first collection of productions and mixes released in 2003 by NY based artists Oliver Stumm and Domie Clausen (a.k.a. A Touch Of Class, ATOC) turned out to be quite visionary for it's time, containing various musical styles from Post-Punk to Electro and Disco, grouped together on each vinyl side titled "Disco Sucks!", "Electro Sucks!", "Rock Sucks!" and "Punk Sucks!" It proved that ATOC foresaw the accelerated emergence of these consecutive retro styles by ironically denouncing them before they even had established themselves. Visionary also by including unknown newcomers such as Scissor Sisters as well as using avant-garde production techniques such as "Mashups" with a genre defying stance. It thus received rave reviews by its critics for its originality and production quality. By not betting on one card alone ATOC have endured through these times of musical chairs where so many have fallen by the way side.

A Touch Of Class Still Sucks! is the follow-up, keeping that same uncompromising attitude, still defying specific genre and not buying into any one hype of the moment. ATOC delivers an impressive roster of production work (Scissor Sisters, Waldorf, Services) and cutting edge remixes (The Gossip, Le Tigre, Erasure), delivering uncompromising, cutting edge yet daring mixes of highest craftsmanship.

Released on their own label imprint A Touch Of Class Recordings, having a track record of releasing the first few Scissor Sisters singles such as "Comfortably Numb" and "Filthy/Gorgeous" (being their incubator and mother label), as well as Waldorf's "You're My Disco" and The Ones' "Flawless", this retrospective offers quite a variety, starting on a dub-disco tip and ending in distorted dance floor territory.

Starting off with The Gossip's "Listen Up", ATOC add their signature bells and whistles and attention to detail while extending the original to over twice its length, taking it into dance-floor direction without sacrificing any of it's original rock bite. On Le Tigre's "After Dark" they nonchalantly incorporate a different chord progression, both enhancing the chorus and blurring the lines between electro, disco and rock even further. In Scissor Sisters' "Filthy/Gorgeous" they add the filth that was so desperately missing in the original, making this a drunken party favorite. On the other hand "Ultramodern" that they co-wrote and produced is an old school hip-hop meets grimecore affair. Their own "I Feel Upside Down" demonstrates with compelling studio wizardry their use of electronics combined with live instrumentation. Waldorf, known for their extravagant lyrics, use the 19th century classic "Erl King" from J. W. Goethe for a prog-rock opera epic. On Services' "Element Of Danger", distorted search-and-destroy synthesizers mark the new style of Electro, or Electro-metal, so to say. Erasure's "Don't Say You Love Me" increases this to rave levels for maximum effect.

Overall A Touch Of Class Still Sucks! illustrates beautifully the newest directions the avant-garde dance world has to offer. With their ironic take on the late 70s "Disco Sucks!" campaign they not only denounce themselves as well as those re-emerging retro styles, they also intentionally address the irony that this discredited 70's genre and dance music in general remains one of the most influential music forms of our time.



Quotes

"A Touch Of Class are responsible for releasing, remixing or producing some of my favorite songs of the past few years; an electro-freakout remix of A.R.E. Weapons' 'Streetgang', Waldorf's 'Fashionist' and both sides of the Secret Weapons EP."
The Prettiest Pony (June 2006)


"Les fans (de The Gossip) pourront se consoler en écoutant le superbe remix de listen up par ATOC. "(07 sept. 2006)
Lesinrocksparis.com


"A Touch Of Class, a label I've been quite fond of ever since picking up A Touch Of Class Sucks!, their tragically slept-on compilation a few years ago; …the spankin' new ATOC remix of the Gossip's "Listen Up" (and it's GREAT)"
greenpeaness.org (June 2006)


"A Touch Of Class' eight-minute remix may be the most effective at taking up 'Listen Up!' in an even more danceable direction without sacrificing any of it's rock bite"
Billboard Magazine (August 2006)


"The production team of A Touch Of Class, Oliver Stumm and Domie Clausen, have worked their magic on The Gossip's 'Listen Up'. By adding their signature bells & whistles they provide plenty of dancefloor kick."
Arjanwrites.com (June 2006)


"...a label known for excellent disco productions (including early Scissor Sisters singles). It's nice to see ATOC branch out in a new direction that's still consistent with the label's no-holds-barred, fun first approach to electronics."
Elisabeth Vincentelli, Time Out NY (August 2005)


"Just check out their 'ATOC' compilation CD to get an idea of the sheer quality of this label's output."
DJ Mag (March 2004)


"ATOC are the home of some of the most innovative, inspiring and damned 'out-there' music to emerge..."
Lewis Dene, Update DMC UK (2004)


"A new retrospective that mixes and matches dance genres with rare glee."
Time Out NY (March 2004)


"Surely a label that divides its compilation into four categories disco, electro, punk and rock deserves to be awarded the best taste (and sense of humor) ever."
Notion (August 2004)


"Compilation of the week (five out of five dancing men)."
Update U.K. (August 2003)


"The ATOC roster…is already mighty real."
I-D Magazine (April 2003)


"All the labels you need to know…"
V Magazine (March 2003)




Tracklisting/Linernotes

1. The Gossip - Listen Up (ATOC Extended Mix)
(H. Blilie, N. Howdeshell, M. B. Patterson)
Used Under License From Kill Rock Stars
Published By Dark Lives Music (ASCAP)

2. Le Tigre - After Dark (ATOC Remix)
(J. R. Fateman, K. Hanna, J. R.samson)
Guitars By Charles Nieland
Published By Babe Anderson Publ. (ASCAP)
Used Under License From Island Records/Universal Music

3. Waldorf - Get Ready For Your Last Dance
(A. Baud, D. Renggli)

4. The Ones - Ultramodern (ATOC Dubmaster)
(O. Stumm, D. Clausen, J. Roberts, The Ones)

5. The Ones - Picture Perfect (ATOC Instrumental)
(O. Stumm, D. Clausen, J. Roberts, The Ones)

6. ATOC feat. The Ones - I Feel Upside Down (Vocal Mix)
(O. Stumm, D. Clausen, J. Roberts, The Ones)

7. Waldorf - Erlkoenig
(A. Baud, D. Renggli)

8. Scissor Sisters - Filthy/gorgeous (ATOC vs. Superbuddha Remix)
(S. C. Hoffman, A. C. Lynch, J. Sellards)
Produced By A Touch Of Class & Superbuddha

9. The Alpine - Trigger (ATOC Remix)
(The Alpine)
Under License From Gun Records Gmbh

10. Services - Element Of Danger (ATOC Remix)
(T. Bechet, C. Pravdica)

11. Erasure - Don't Say You Love Me (ATOC's Ravin' 'n' Rockin' Remix)
(B. A. Ivan, V. Clark)
Used Under License From Mute Records UK
Published By Sony/atv Tunes Llc (ASCAP)

12. Secret Weapons - Bumps (ATOC Instrumental)
(O. Stumm, D. Clausen)

Mastered By Oliver Stumm
Artwork & Design By Dominique Clausen

Published by Artificial Music (ASCAP)
except where indicated

P+C 2007
A Touch Of Class Recordings