Beastie Boys’ Mike D, Cat Power Take ‘Action’ With Cassius
Beastie Boys MC Mike D and Cat Power join the long-silent French electronic duo Cassius for a feisty new single, “Action,” which premiered on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show.
Mike D’s classic nasally cadence is a fine fit on the rumbling, disco-inspired cut, while Cat Power’s Chan Marshall delivers an enticing vocal performance that crosses the dance floor diva spectrum from sultry and smooth to brash and too-cool-to-care. Cassius’ production is equally enrapturing, anchored by a bongo-and-bass groove and boasting a punchy guitar part and bleating saxophone.
Speaking with Pitchfork, Mike D said “Action” came about when Philippe Zdar — one half of Cassius with Boom Bass — played him and Marshall the track in New York City. “The song came with this world liberation theme and then I came with a modern-day relationship theme, and somehow the two went together,” he said. “It’s kind of like toast and Vegemite go together only in Australia.”
Zdar previously mixed the Beastie Boys’ final record, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two — and it was his work on that album that inspired Marshall to tap him to mix her most recent LP, 2012’s Sun.
As for Cassius, Zdar confirmed to Annie Mac that he and Boom Bass have been working on a new album, though he didn’t provide a name or release date. The duo haven’t put out a proper LP since 2006’s 15 Again, though they did compile the Cassiusplay collection for Nike in 2008 and released The Rawkers EP in 2010.