Gary Floyd 0 Report post Posted November 15, 2004 Recently, I bought the limited edition 3 disk set of remixed Depeche mode songs, and with nothing else to do, decided to review it disk for disk. So, on with the show! Disk 1 Never Let Me Down Again-Split Mix by Depeche Mode & Dave Bascombe-1987-Essentially a 12" mix, with an extended instrumental section, and bits of the Aggro mix found on "Music For the Masses" Good, but nothing spectacular. ***/**** Policy of Truth-Capitol Mix by Frankois Kevorkian-1990- Kevorkian is a legendary DJ/Remixer, and I like this track. Basic old school acid hose beat, with added samples make it a fun tune. ***/**** Shout-Rio Mix by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller-1981-Nice Little 80's style mix, complete with danceable 80's drum machine, and some decent synth lines. ***/**** Home-Air "Around The Golf Mix" by Air-1997-Excellent remix, with a great trip hop beat, chilly organs, and what you would expect from the group Air. ****/**** Strangelove-Blind Mix by Daniel Miller and Rico Conning-1987 -Good late 80's style club mix, with echoing beats, bits of the original, and added sounds. ***/**** Rush-Spiritual Guidance Mix by Jack Dangers-1993-Holy shit, this one is awesome, and even better than the original. Hip Hop beats and samples, acidy synth noises, excellent bass; it's just too good. ****/**** I Feel You-Afghan Surgery Mix By Renegade Soundwave-1993-Cool dub electro mix, without vocals, and a nice echoing, almost dub like beat. Nice use of the screeching guitar from the original version . ***1/2/**** Barrel of a Gun-Hard Mix by Underworld-1997-Ugh. I Normally like Underworld, but this one is too UK Rave for my tastes. Grows boring. */**** Route 66-Beatmasters Mix-1987-Awesome mix with samples from "Behind the Weel", as well as samples from the show "Name that Tune" and a great hip hop breakbeat. ****/**** Freelove-DJ Muggs Mix-2001-Another even better than the original mix. This one is mixed as a rock song, with drums, guitar, the whole deal. Yet somehow, it all works. ***1/2/**** I Feel Loved-Chamber's Mix by Chamber-2001-Not as good as the original, or as Danny Tengalia's Mix, but still cool. Kind of Trancey, though I normally don't like trance. ***/**** Just Can't Get Enough-Schizo Mix by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller-1981-More like an extended version of the original, though still better than Underworld's mix of Barrel of a Gun. Listenable, but nothing exceptional. **1/2/**** More to Come, so don't worry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gary Floyd 0 Report post Posted November 15, 2004 Alright now, on to disc 2 Disc 2 Personal Jesus-Pump Mix by Francois Kevorkian-1989-The original beat is there, and samples of a televangelist pop up, once again showing off Kevorkian's excellent understanding of house, dub, and disco. However, the emission of the original's excellent blues guitar riffs omits a star. ***/**** World in My Eyes-Mode to Joy Mix by Jon Marsh-1990-Excellent House remix with great latin percussin, samples, and electronic programming. A real winner. ****/**** Get the Balance Right!-Combination Mix by Depeche Mode-1983 -Alot like the Original, though the slow beginning, and synth stabs save it from mediocraty. ***/**** Everything Counts-Absolut Mix by Alan Moulder-1989 -Lyrics appear randomly, as it's a basic fun 80's mix, though the excellent synth work (which are very techno-esque) make it a surprise winner. ***1/2/**** Stripped-Breathing in Fumes Mix by Depeche Mode, Daniel Miller, and Gareth Jones-1986-Similar to the previous mix, though it maintains the industrial stomp of the original. It doesn't have the exceptional synth work of the previous mix, but at one point, the chorus is electronically altered, making another winner. ***1/2/**** Pain Killer-Kill the Pain-DJ Shadow vs. Depeche Mode mix by DJ Shadow-1997-It's mixed by DJ Shadow, so of course, it's great. Soul music samples show up hear and there, though break beats only appear once, and briefly. In a sense, the mix is a taste of things to come for Shadow, and is a practical preview of his "Private Press" Album. ****/**** Useless-Kruder and Dorfmeister Session mix by Kruder and Dorfmeister-1997-This mix also appears on the awesome"Kruder and Dorfmeister Sessions" mix-albu. Great use of the original's basslines, while the hip-hop beats fit perfectly. The final third is breezy and chilled. ****/**** In Your Room-The Jeep Rock Mix by Johnny Dollar and Portishead-1994-Upbeat hip hop break beat is used, almost similar to the one used in Rob D's "Clubbed to Death". The originals synth lines are put to good use. ***/**** Dream on-Acoustic Version by Dave Clark-2001-Alot like the original, only instrumental. The original was good, but it's the acoustic guitar that makes this one work. ***/**** It's No Good-Speedy J Mix-2001-Minimalist, almost IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) style mix with fun, danceable beats, and random snippets from the original. Disposable, but enjoyable. ***/**** Master and Servent-An On-U Sound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic Mix by Adrien Sherwood-1984-If you've ever heard Ministry's 1985 album "Twitch", you'll get something similar. This one could best be described as a synth pop/dancehall/dub/industrial hybrid, making it all the more fun. ***1/2/**** Enjoy The Silence-Timo Mass Extended Mix-2004-I was quite suprised by this one, seeing how I normally don't care for Timo Mass. Something of a Progressive House/Trance mix, though it never get's too hyper, or never gets too calm and laidback. A pleasent suprise. ***1/2/**** One disc to go. Hope you're enjoying the read so far. Oh, and please come visit me dawg- http://littlebrittleandthecbag.ytmnd.com/ (I could listen to that all day.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gary Floyd 0 Report post Posted November 15, 2004 Time for the third and final disc to be reviewed. Disc 3 A Question of Lust-Remix by Flood-1986-A bit more beat orinated thne the original version, but still maintains the ambient, joy and hoplessness feeling that the original captured. Nothing great, but acceptable. ***/**** Walking in My Shoes-Random Carpet Mix (Full Length) by William Orbit-1993-Not as symphonic as the original though the electronic buzzes and bulses, added with break beats, makes it a tasty number. ***1/2/**** People are People-Are People People? Mix by Adrien Sherwood-1984-Vocal free dub, which is saved by excellent use of reggae samples that appear and reappear, making it great for both clubs and dancehalls. ***1/2/**** World in My Eyes-Daniel Miller Mix-1990-Excellent, live sounding drum beat to what could have been a drab mix. Heard better, but heard worse. **1/2/**** I Feel Loved-Labor of Love Dub (Edit) by Dany Tengalia-2001- I normally don't like trance music, but I adore this mix. A driving beat, excellent use of vocal echoes, and a deep understanding on how to make you shake your ass and dance. It's No Good-Future Mix by Club 69-1997-Ugh, ugh, ugh, UGH! (And not the camp conselor from "Salute Your Shorts") My least favorite mix on the set, is way too mainstream dance-music for my tastes. To me, it's everything I don't like about dance music. Why couldn't they just have used the Orb's excellent remix of "Happiest Girl", or Dan the Automators remix of "Only When I Lose Myself" instead of this trifle bullshit? 0/**** Photographic-Rex the Dog Remix-2004-This is much better. A crisp dance track, free of vocals, that has a nice little dance beat, and great synth lines make this track an improvement over the previous debacle of a mix. ***1/2/**** Little 15-Ulrich Schauss Remix-2004-By and far, my favorite remix of the set. Maintains the sorrowful feel of the original, while stripping it down to it's barest bits, creating an exceptional IDM/Ambient feeling that really works. Just a great example of how to do a remix. ****/**** Nothing-Rock Mix by Headcleaner-2004-Listenable but generic rock remix. Next! **/**** Lie to Me-"Pleasure of Her Private Shame" mix by LFO-2004-No, not the boy band LFO, the old Sheffield techno group LFO. Great IDM/Minmailist beat techno mix that somehow manages to stay true to the original. ***1/2/**** Clean-Colder Version by Colder-2004- Stripped down, acid techno (not acid house) mix with beats, and acid like synths maintain a mix of machine coldness and human warmth. ***1/2/**** Halo-Goldfrapp Remix-2004-Excellent minimal mix strips away the beats,uses harps, seabreeze cold synths, and Allyson Goldfrapp singing the chorus. An exceptional mix. ****/**** Enjoy the Silence-Reinterperated by Mike Shinoda-2004-Yes, THAT Mike Shinoda. Don't worry, no one from Linkin Park sings. In fact, this is actually a good mix, with minimal electronics, harsh synth/organ stabs, and melodic piano work. A nice way to end the set. ***1/2/**** Well, that's it. Thoughts? Comments? I'd like it if you posted them. Finally, here is a question: Do You want a piece of Shockmaster? http://tehshockmaster.ytmnd.com/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted November 15, 2004 I think I want this for Christmas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
