For this record, it’s important to always mark the issue correctly, considering that »New York Noise« is no regular reissue but rather a modified version of the original compilation from 2003. Seven titles were exchanged altogether, the insights into the New Yorker underground cosmos made of indie-disco, mutant funk, punk and stalwart noise rock having shifted a little from funk to punk. The fact that Liquid Liquid’s super classic »Optimo« has been left out comes across as an understandable choice at first sight. In addition, it’s fairly comprehensible that DNA’s »5:30« was replaced by a collaboration of Arto Lindsay and Neto that is even further out there. What is harder to forgive is that the gothic futurism of rap-eccentric Rammellzee, who has died in the meantime, had to give room for Chan Gang’s rather grounded punk. And, of course, Glenn Branca – at least still present through a track by the Theoretical Girls – would have still been becoming to this new edition through the Wall-of-Sound-etude »Lesson No. 1«. Instead, you can now find Alan Vega’s no-wave-rock, which isn’t a bad alternative, but it’s hard to measure the record’s changes through a cost-benefit-calculation. It’s just a shame that the album has moved quite far from funk, considering that, in addition Liquid Liquid, Defunkt isn’t part of the game anymore, either. As far as I’m concerned, the record could have just as well been reissued unchanged.
Squid
Cowards
Warp