Remix Review

Bloggers these days end up receiving more remixes than original music. I’m pretty sure other bloggers can attest to to this fact, but just in case they’re feeling extra private about it I’ll ask that you take my word for it. Out of say 100 emails I receive a day, I’d say at least 50 of them are remixes.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I like a good remix just as much if not more than the average joe. I DJ’d a club night every single Friday for nearly 3 years, in addition to loads of one off events. I know full well the value of a killer remix dropped at just the right moment in a set. And the spread of inexpensive software has lead to thousands of bedroom remixers putting their work out on the internet.

That I’m also incredibly picky about remixes is yet another byproduct of all that time spent in clubs. Most of them are truly god awful. The fact that anyone can sit in front of their computer with Garage Band and 1 hour later send their work out to every blog in existence makes for a lot of clutter. This means you have to spend quite a lot of time sifting through them to find something worth posting or talking about. But I’m willing to go through this pain so that you don’t have to! I’m such a swell guy, aren’t I? On to the good stuff then:

Massive Attack feat Hope Sandoval – Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto Remix)

How excited is everyone for this new Massive Attack record? I know I am. This is a really nice, minimal mix that’s perfectly suited to showcase Hope Sandoval’s sexy whispers. Gui Boratto has turned into an old pro.

Phoenix – Fences (Delphic Remix)

‘Fences’ is an interesting Phoenix track because there are times when I hear it that I feel like I’m listening to Hot Chip. This Delphic remix further confuses my ears by transforming the original completely into Hot Chip. It’s great.

Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer (Afghan Raiders Remix)

Afghan Raiders have consistently impressed me by transforming pretty good tracks into really great tracks. They continue that tradition here, as they take Neon Indian’s ‘Deadbeat Summer’ from glo-fi/lo-fi/whatever to future-fi. I’d rather listen to this than the original, honestly, which just goes to show you that a remix has power beyond a dancefloor.

Heads We Dance – Take My Picture (Digital Fox Glove Remix)

I’ve been glowing over Heads We Dance for going on 3 years now, if you can believe it, and they haven’t let me down yet. New single ‘Take My Picture’ features Becky on lead vocals and this great remix by Digital Fox Glove plays up the track’s strengths with ease.

Delphic – Doubt (What Kind Of Breeze Do You Blow Remix)

And Delphic reappears, only this time they’re on the receiving end of the remix relationship. What Kind of Breeze Do You Blow slow ‘Doubt’ into a slightly menacing house track. Great for an early evening DJ set or even a 3 am dancefloor.

Tags: afghan raiders, delphic, gui boratto, heads we dance, massive attack, neon indian, phoenix, what kind of breeze do you blow