Must confess that your reviewer only previously knew MELLOW by reputation, though their press release divulges that "Drifting Out Of Sight" is from the Parisian-based duo's THIRD album "Perfect Colours." Cripes. Who knows where the time goes?
Anyway, better late than never, and "Drifting Out Of Sight" suggests a little backtracking is in order. Not that Mellow seduce you forcibly: indeed, "Drifting Out Of Sight" is a fragile, romantic beauty that stylistically falls with a quiet bump someplace between less-sinister Magnet and Atmospheriques labelmates Tahiti 80 at their most laid back and Beach Boys-y. Singer Patrick Woodcock is almost a ringer for Mercury Rev's Jonathan Donahue, which can be a little disconcerting, but the song's "prisoners of sunshine" catchline is undeniable and the whole caboodle is very radio-friendly in a floatily kaleidoscopic kinda way.
The endless stream of 'versions' accompanying the main track aren't entirely necessary, proffering mistier, softer focus takes of the slightly beefed up single cut, though when they farm "Drifting...." out to the remixers, it fares better, especially where Skint/ City Rockers stars FC Kahuna are concerned. Their revamp is the most radical and they give it some impressive muscle and an electro swagger not to be trifled with. Could I get away with their resculpturing as "Eddie Cochran's ghost walking with Goldfrapp and a vocoder for company"? No, thought not.
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Still, for the most part it seems it's very much a case of Mellow by name and Mellow by nature here, and a surefire swaying summer hit into the bargain. Sweet.
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