This is a remix album, of sorts. Instead of remixing individual songs by using separated tracks as sources, these remixes sample pieces out of full Pizzicato Five songs and craft them into new recordings.

At least two of these tracks have been released before, although (as per usual) on smaller edition EPs and collector items like Pizzicato Five In The Bag. There are some variations in style: some pieces are almost straight-ahead cut ups, some take anthemic segments of two or three songs as the source and turn them into thick dancable hits, others pull from many sources. Some use turntables. Some slow things down. Some speed them up (Pizzicato X, previously from the 24 December Ep, speeds through much of the 90’s Pizzicato Five output over its 12 minute duration – most other tracks average around 6 minutes).

Some of the stand-outs, for me, are “Bossa Nova 3003” (mixed by Pizzicato Five, and previously available on Non-Stop to Tokyo EP and Pizzicato Five In The Bag); “PizziCUT Five UP Anthems” by Cubismo Grafico (uses Week-End heavily, which is one of my favorite songs. It gets a little repetitive, but it’s a fun piece); “Yikes! Peach Cut 5’24’!!” (another slightly repetitive party piece, but it feels good, borrowing a lot from the funkier Pizzicato Five tracks along with the words “you better watch out, you better not cry, come on everybody, it’s time to celebrate!”); “A revolt of turntable and p5” (slower, vari-speed, a little more experimental).

As someone who loves a lot of musique concrete, avant garde 20th century classical (particularly early to mid century), dadaism, etc, while also loving the hell out of Pizzicato Five, this album has been a treat. It never really strays into harsh experimentalism, nor does it stray into mundane electronica remixing. The horns, the strings, the choruses, the anthems, the Maki interviews, the funk, the jazz, it’s all here. Pizzicato’s strongest sounds, arranged and re-arranged by a collection of different artists.