It's not surprising that a major label-issued retrospective by producer and composer
David Holmes is characterized by his more famous, post-millennial bachelor pad funk and hip-hop-influenced work and largely ignores the edgier, less categorizable vanguard approach of his electronica-infused, though often unfocused, imaginary soundtracks of the late '90s. Given the track selection, it does come as a bit of a shock, however, that
Holmes chose the material himself for
The Dogs Are Parading. Disc one of this double set collects 15 tracks, one of which, "The Girlfriend Experience," is new. Disc two is comprised mainly of remixes and includes 13 cuts; three of which are unreleased. The '90s are represented by four selections on the first platter: a cover of
Serge Gainsbourg's "Don't Die Just Yet," "My Mate Paul," and "Rodney Yates"; all three appeared on 1997's
Let's Get Killed. There are four cuts from the stellar
Bow Down to the Exit Sign, including "69 Police," "Living Room," "Hey Lisa," and "Jackson Johnson." Other tracks are chosen from his
Free Association recordings including "Sugarman" and "(I Wish I Had) A Wooden Heart," as well different treatments of the title cut from 2008's
The Holy Pictures and "Theme/IMC." Disc two's remixes contain some really solid moments such as
Arab Strap's rework of "Don't Die Just Yet," and
Fridge's drum'n'bass push on "Head Rush on Lafayette."
Holmes' own unissued "The Lower Orders" is also worthwhile. ~ Thom Jurek