Regis O'Wow
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Terrific showcase for a unique band and awesome remixers
Brilliant move by Hardcore Lounge to release this collection of remixes. The band is known for their sense of adventure, and allowing a selection of talented deejays to remold the title track from the 2012 release, Dance of My Life, proves so in excellent fashion. The result of the collaborations also proves to be excellent, and this album sounds great!
I don't know whether the success of this project rests with Hardcore Lounge's ability to select the best remixers or with the talents of the remixers themselves. In either case, the chosen producers each demonstrate amazing skill at turning out terrific dance tracks. Remix EPs featuring less skillful artists often result in several versions of a song that sound basically the same outside of slight alteration in tempo or beats. Not so here. Each of the five mixes reveal a distinct personality making it easy for the listener to play the entire album without wearing out from hearing the same song repeated.
I've been a fan of George Brazil for a number of years now, so I'm glad to find him included on this project. No surprise to me to absolutely love his take on HL's song. The repeating bars of bass, the almost eerie synth and added effects make the track sound about as good as anything James Murphy's done. Seriously. And the bursts of warped vocal notes are pure wizardry. As a DEVO fan, I also love how George Brazil somehow gets Wesley to sound like Mark Mothersbaugh with the brief clips from the song's chorus.
Hearing the Farfalla Music mix was what made me buy this album. It turns the original, bombastic tune into a sweet, downtempo track with bits of dub and a world music flavor. Fantastic, playful percussion on this one.
I'm not familiar with Mr. Atomic, but the "Saxy Edit" changes the song in unexpected ways, not the least being altering the pitch of the vocals so much to make me think it was a female singer (and sounding a good bit like Sade). Or is that Allison's vocals? This mix also has elements of dub and gives the song a tribal beat.
"Coop's Midnight Dub," while certainly sticking with a dub groove, also incorporates a latin rhythm, featuring the drum a little more than the bass. Elements like horns and keys are added to the mix at a natural pace. This one is certainly danceable but has a relaxing quality as well.
At first listen, the Mikey & Dsko mix was my least favorite, but it is one fun track, and quite likely the most danceable version on this collection.
Overall, the Dance of My Life remix CD is excellent. Outstanding artistry all around, and a treat to hear.
Production on the original album track version of the song is impeccable. And fun. Layered with horn blasts, swelling strings, and almost-but-not-quite-disco rhythm, you might think I'm describing a Vegas showstopper, but it's actually less so than some of the group's other songs (they are called Hardcore LOUNGE, after all). Instead it recalls Trevor Horn's fine work with the 80's band ABC, particularly after the dramatic bridge. Singer Wesley Johnson's throaty intonation even comes close to Martin Fry at points. High praise, coming from me, but justly earned.
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