Indie rock bands who want kids to dance at their shows should study the proven methods of Tokyo’s Boom Boom Satellites. The duo’s secret dance-punk-meets-trip-hop recipe has been winning over the hearts and feet of cool kids for more than a decade.

Boom Boom Satellites Photo: bbs-net.com

Those looking to catch up on their story would be wise to start with the band’s forthcoming best-of Over and Over. All seventeen tracks on this compilation are freshly remixed and re-mastered by guitarist/vocalist Michiyuki Kawashima and bassist/drummer/DJ Masayuki Nakano themselves, making it a treat to be enjoyed by old fans and newcomers alike. A remix album from these two is not to be missed as they are highly sought-after producers in Japan.

The songs on Over and Over are drawn from six of seven Boom Boom Satellite albums, and their sequence reflects the progress of Boom Boom Satellite’s sound over time. The album starts with a string of meaty dance-floor burners like the sassy, soul-sampling electro “Kick It Out”. But the manic beats start to cool out a little as the album progresses, reflecting the band’s later, more exploratory output.

Boom Boom Satellites' new compilation Over and Over Photo: bbs-net.com

The moody, string-laced instrumental “On the Painted Desert” provides welcome relief from the intensity midway through. Hint: Headphones are highly recommended when approaching this gem.  Somehow, the album continues to reach new heights from there, hitting a totally transcendent peak on “Intergalactic” before taking a delicious nosedive into the grungy, sweaty “Soliloquy”. There isn’t an ounce of fat on this compilation either. Even the US bonus tracks (usually the quirky throwaways) will make you want to jump up and down on the bed with your trainers on.

As a side note, many anime fans will already be familiar with the group through their contributions to the soundtracks of such films as 2004’s Appleseed. The band is planning its upcoming US tour around the New York Comic Con and Anime Festival in October. Over and Over will be available digitally September 14 and in stores October 19.

– Beverly Bryan

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