Madcap Mashed, Xiu Xiu.

With compulsively creative, general avant-pop crackpot Jamie Stewart back at the fore of cerebral lobes (whether that be via his latest Turin-set twiddlings with sperimentalisti italiani Larsen or most recent Xiu Xiu full length Always, released back in March) the boy is quite literally back in town. He tonight (June 22nd) pairs up with the Italians aforementioned for a special XXL showing at Café OTO and if you're in need of pepping up for such madcap hijinks then York indie Bad Paintings have handily put together a couple Always distortions which may be digested below. Up first is a glitchy, schizoid take on the intrinsically problematic I Luv Abortion that, although it may sound as though the Teengirl Fantasy boys or those from Emeralds may have had a meddle, has been tinkered to suitably mental effect by none other than Deerhoof's tom-tom thudder Greg Saunier.

On the flipside meanwhile, the once vaguely upbeat (or at least about as upbeat as Stewart ever contrives to conjure) Joey's Song has a menacing house spin put on it by Caracas' IDM wunderkind Kid606 as it pounds to the motorik drill of condensed snares, eyes-wide-open synth lines and the like.

All the cassettes are out although the single's still up and out there on 7", to be acquired here.