Used to be that I could not stand a remix. I was a purist; choosing to go with the original song version as the artist intended. Remixes hurt the ears.
I wonder now if perhaps I had just been exposed to really really crappy ones. Or maybe the quality of remixing overall has vastly improved. It’s hard to deny that there are artists out there taking music created before them and twisting and turning it into something new, something different, and often something better. Two examples I’ve come upon in the past week that impressed:
Much like my feelings on remixes, Vampire Weekend is a band it took me some time to develop an appreciation for. The Chromeo Remix of their iconic song The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance though? Instant love. Like, the play on repeat kind of love. Here’s a song you’ve heard a million times before and now it’s fresh again and - bonus - you can dance to it. (you’re welcome)
Lykke Li’s Little Bit is one that gets remixed often, and as a fan of hers and the song I pretty much check out every version I get my hands on. The AutoErotique Bootleg Remix is a recent find and is my favorite one thus far. It’s got a little bit of a harder edge to the beats that does it for me. Plus they’re Canadian, which always seems to be a thing for me… Check it out from RCRD LBL.
Wow. This sounds like the Pet Shop Boys had sex with Erasure and then lied to New Order about remixing V.W. behind their back when they were on a business trip.
Nice find!
An old friend of mine was a huge remix guy back in the 80s. We’d go out and party and he always the one who knew what song was playing in the club. I never understood the whole remix deal until he got me listening to his favorite band, Big Audio Dynamite. Good shit.
Anyway, my old buddy Dave kept his passion going and actually runs the website remixes.net. I don’t use the site myself, but it might be something you two might want to check out.