Mix-tastic – Old School

Monday, 1 June 2009, 4:44 | Written by: marilyn
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It’s funny to me that you can now call some remixes as old school. It still feels like it was just yesterday, but nope. Time is flying by. The mixes are still good though! Enjoy my top 3 old school remixes.

Open Up (Chemical Brothers Remix) – Leftfield

The casting on this track is ridiculous: John “Johnny Rotton” Lydon with Leftfield, remixed by The Chemical Brothers. Best known for the soundtrack to Hackers from way back in 1995. An album that introduces many to the wondrous world of electronic music, including yours truly. The tune remains one of my favourites, with its full and unique sound, and John Lydon calling out, unapolagetically “Bigger than God”. Indeed.

Leftfield has disbanded, but back in the day they were quite something. They owned the flexibility that being electronic musicians gave them. Blending diverse elements from Eastern and modern music, showing the world how limitless the whole electronic music thing is.

Human Behavior (Underworld Remix) – Björk

Björk’s classic tune from 1993 was given special treatment by the English duo, Underworld, for the single. Underworld ramped up the tribal vibe that runs through the track, and essentially turned a classic track into an epic. They maintained Björk’s unique vocals and expanded on the the songs beats and rhythms to a whopping 12 minutes!

Walking in My Shoes (Anandamidic Mix) – Depeche Mode

There were many remixes on the Walking in My Shoes single, but this one stood out above the rest.  Remixed by the band Spirit Feel, who was discovered by Depeche Mode’s Martain Gore, and have since left but a small trace across the internet. The percussions on this remix are what make it so special. Tribal drums mixed with deep bass lines, and David Gahan’s sensual and tortured vocals.

Patience on the Golden Path

Monday, 21 April 2008, 6:24 | Written by: marilyn
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Both The Flaming Lips and The Chemical Brothers have been favourite artists of mine for many years. When I first heard of their pending collaboration a few years back I was a little taken aback… what an odd pair! But I was excited nonetheless, to hear what the unlikely pairing might result in.

The Golden PathThe Flaming Lips & Chemical Brothers
Singles 93-03 (2003)

I rushed out to get The Chemical Brothers’ compilation disc, Singles 93-03, the day it came out in excitement for this one song. I already owned most of the discs put out by The Chemical Brothers, I certainly didn’t need this compilations cd. To tell the truth, I was a little put off by The Golden Path at first listen, thinking it odd and not good for dancing. But I didn’t give up on it, how could so much talent put together not result in a great tune? My patience paid off. The song quickly grew on me. The quirky vocals of Wayne Coyne tells a bizarre tale of a journey into the unknown, encountering both specters and demons. When he is confronted with the devil himself, he calls out:

Help me lord!
I found myself in some kind of Hell!
But I did not believe in a heaven and hell,
world in opposites, kind of reality.
And I gained control of myself,
and I decided to press on.

Can you imagine being face to face with Lucifer, then denying his apparent existence because you don’t believe in such simple dichotomies? How absurdly beautiful! The track itself is lined with The Chemical Brothers’ unique style of impeccably timed electronic sounds that perfectly highlight Coyne’s vocals. This track was definitely worth the purchase. I encourage you to give it a listen, and please, be patient!

The Sunshine UndergroundThe Chemical Brothers
Surrender (1999)

The Chemical Brothers are known for epic electronic tunes. The Sunshine Underground certainly adds to this image. One the best examples of a song that slowly, and expertly builds to a massive climax, bringing in multiple layers and elements at every turn. If you don`t have the patience to listen to the 5 minute build up you will miss the sonic beauty that the duo from the UK skillfully craft at the pinnacle of this masterpiece. This under-celebrated track is from Surrender, the 3rd of 6 full length releases by The Chemical Brothers. The pair remain very active in the industry as they released We are the Night last summer, and continue to do shows through Europe and the UK, though any stops in North America are unlikely. :(

Do You RealizeThe Flaming Lips
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)

The Flaming Lips have long been one of my favourites because of their wacky and fun style! This humble offering from the boys from Oklahoma is in typical Flaming Lips fashion, but it illustrates a new level of musical maturity and skill than their previous singles. Being from the 10th of 11 full length releases, The Flaming Lips’ experience shines through the soaring guitars, chiming bells and the unobtrusive but engaging percussions. The lyrics and vocals accentuates the child-like wonder of this track in a way that only Wayne Coyne can offer. Simple, yet poignant, the lyrics remind the listener to realize that our time here is finite, and shouldn’t be wasted. Watch for The Flaming Lips on the festival circuit this summer!