Archive for the ‘remixes’ Category

Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

This site has not turned into an Underworld fan page, it’s just what I had easily available at the moment. I’m sick, tired and it’s been a long week. When I do get the energy to clean/play/record my recent finds I can assure you that I will have some amazing stuff that’s not dance music.

But there will also be a lot of dance music. So you might want to get used to that.

Underworld
Dirty Epic (Dirty Guitar Mix)
Dirty Epic (Dirty Mix)
Cowgirl (Irish Pub In Kyoto Mix)
Cowgirl (Winjer Mix)
If I was a world famous remixing person, I would make a remix of “Cowgirl” called “The Everything (Everything) Mix.” It would just sample the beginning vocal of the track (where he says “everything, everything”) and build up everything else around that, with the vocal loop never ending. A remix should take the best bit of a song and push it to the front. Fuck the rest.

That being said, these remixes of both “Dirty Epic” and “Cowgirl” are still great even though they don’t do that. Maybe there’s a flaw in my idea. Nah, fuck that. I’m flawless.

Nobukazu Takemura
Mimic Robot (12″ Single Mix)
Cons (Plant Mix)

Resign Part 2
Lost Treasures (2nd Single Mix)
If and when I ever finish The Lost Turntable Guide to Recording Vinyl, I will have a chapter on vinyl restoration software. Some of that stuff is great, and can really go a long way to restoring even the most battered of recordings. That being said, if an artist incorporates clicks, pops and hisses into their recording, then don’t even bother using it. It will obviously remove those as well.

Which is a really long-winded way for me to explain why these tracks by Nobukazu Takemura haven’t been restored and have a few (unintended) clicks and pops in them.

They don’t have any skips though. If you think they do then you obviously haven’t heard enough experimental electronic music. It’s supposed to sound like that.

If you have never heard of Nobukazu Takemura before, you’re in for a treat. I like to describe his electronic stuff as music a seven-year-old would make if they new how to work a synthesizer, vocoder and sampler. It’s wonderfully kooky and cute.

A Crapton of Electronic Music (Too Tired to be Witty, Sorry)

Friday, February 17th, 2012

I know I promised my guide to ripping vinyl this week, but I’m sorry to say that I lied. That’s going to have to wait at least a week, if not two. Life is getting in the way, mostly in a good way, but definitely in a way that makes writing a 2,000+ how-to guide for fun kind of a low priority assignment.

Speaking of things I’ve written that are approximately 2,000 words. If you are in a bookstore and see the latest copy of Goldmine (the one with Dennis DeYoung on the cover) and you want to read something I wrote, pick it up! I did a feature on Super Deluxe Box Sets. I’m pretty proud of it. You should read it. Seriously. If you do I’ll, like, be your best friend and stuff.

Oh, and I have a new post at my other blog, Random Record Reviews, read that too. I mean, if you want.

Underworld
Dinosaur Adventure 3D (Darren Price Remix)
Dinosaur Adventure 3D (R.C.M. Version)
Dinosaur Adventure 3D (Sharpside Remix)
Dinosaur Adventure 3D (Funk D Void Vocal Remix)
Two Months Off (King Unique Sunspots – Vocal Mix)
Two Months Off (John Ciafone Vocal Remix)
“Dinosaur Adventure 3D” is a great title for a not-so-great tune, while “Two Months Off” is a bland title to one hell of a great dance track. The “Two Months Off” remixes are especially good because they still leave in the vocals, which were the best part of the song, while reworking the music that was a little bit weak on the original version.

Ladytron
Evil (Ewin Pearson Remix)
There’s a version of this remix on Amazon and iTunes, but it’s mysteriously a minute shorter than this one, which I snagged from a 12″ single. Great tune, one of Ladytron’s best. I love the line “Use you evil when you want.”

If I had any evil in me I’d probably screw it up somehow and use it to rescue puppies or something.

Sasha
Lupus (Jimmy Van M/Cass & Slide Remix)
Scorchio (Sander Kleinenberg’s Scotland Mix)
Sorry Dr. House, this time is it Lupus. And an awesome remix of the Sasha/Emerson tune “Scorchio.” These are from a weird 12″ I found called Unreleased DJ Mixes. Which if you think about it is a total bullshit title, since I’m holding it in my hand and it was obviously released. I guess Previously Unreleased DJ Mixes didn’t sound as catchy.

The Chemical Brothers
Out Of Control (Sasha Instrumental Mix)
I really wanted to put up the regular club mix of this excellent track, but you can find that one on Amazon. So I only have the Instrumental version to offer, sorry! Even without the vocals, this tune still nails it though.

Good Songs By Bands You’ve Never Heard Of (and a cover by Zwan)

Monday, February 13th, 2012

I was in Youngstown, Toledo and Detroit over the weekend and now I am sick. I do not believe this is a coincidence.

Endgames
Love Cares (Extended Version)
Love Cares (Single Edit)
Ready Or Not 
Endgames is on the Live Letters LP I featured a couple weeks back. On that 1981 release, they area  dissonant post-punk act with a decided Joy Division influence. In this single from 1983, they are a mainstream pop act with a decided dance bent. The Endgames of 1981 could have performed on a double-bill with Echo & The Bunnymen. The Endgames of “Love Cares” could have opened for A-Ha. Nice to see that major labels’ dulling of edgy and interesting acts isn’t a new development in any way at all. I still “Love Games” and its b-side, but damn, I would have loved to have heard an album from the Endgames that recorded “Works” and “Visions Of.”

The Hardsonic Bottoms 3
Do It Anyway You Wanna (Extended Version)
Do It Anyway You Wanna (Dub Version)
Do It Anyway You Wanna (Donald Duck Version)
Do It Anyway You Wanna (Night Dub Version) 
I have a lot of questions about this release. First of all, someone has to explain this to me:

The image on the left is the cover to the “Do It Anyway You Wanna” single, originally released in 1988. The image on the right is the cover to Franz Ferdinand’s 2005 album, You Could Have It So Much Better.  I assume they were both inspired by the same source image, but what image is that?

Now that I got that out of the way, I can talk about the song itself. What the hell is this thing? Like I said before, it was released in 1988, but it sounds like some bizarre combination of 90s big beat dance; mid-80s industrial; and late 70s disco. What the hell is it? It is a remix of another song? Who the hell are The Hardsonic Bottoms 3? What the hell do they want you to do (anyway you wanna)? Why is one version called the Donald Duck Version?

What the hell is going on here? I’m so confused! At least the song is fun, even if it can kind of drive you slowly mad with is repetitiveness.

Jigsaw
Sky High
Brand New Love Affair
I have a passion for collecting vinyl soundtracks, and for me, the soundtrack to the 1975 Ozploitation masterpiece The Man From Hong Kong is kind of a holy grail. One day I will find it, and everyone on this blog will know when that happens, because I will post the hell out of it.

So it was a nice surprise to find a 1989 12″ single to “Sky High” by Jigsaw, the theme song to the film. This dance remix of the song isn’t as good as the original version, but it’s still worth a listen. “Brand New Love Affair” is…less worth listening to.

Zwan
Number Of The Beast
Lost Turntable, your only source for Zwan B-sides in 2012. Because…someone has to? Shit I don’t know.

I actually have a lot to say about Zwan, but like Zwan itself, it doesn’t really matter. Enjoy the weird cover. I’m going to go pass out into a pile of blankets.

Electronic Music about Clouds and Math

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Off to Ohio for the weekend. Need to fill my brain with great electronic music if I want to keep sane, or at the very least – gleefully insane.

The Orb
Aftermath (Bus Mix)
From A Distance (Hybrid Mix)
Once More… (Mark’s Slide Mix)
Little Fluffy Clouds (Danny Tenaglia’s Detour Mix)
The Orb’s Adventures Beyond The Underworld turned 20 last year. Feel old, ravers?

I have a lot of 12″ singles by The Orb. Nearly all of them are torn to shit and have been played to death. While that’s a brilliant testament to the longevity and massive popularity of the group, it makes recording the 12″ singles annoying as hell. I have two 12″ singles for “Once More…” but the Mark’s Slide Mix is the only one on either that was playable.  Figures that the the remix to “Aftermath,” one of my least favorite Orb tracks, would be in near-mint condition.

But whatever, you’re really here for the “Little Fluffy Clouds” mix. Download it, it’s quite good.

BT
Fibonacci Sequence
I feel that electronic music is the only type of music that can dedicate an entire song to a mathematical pattern. On second thought, no, I’m totally sure progressive rock can do that to. Shit, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mars Volta one day decide to an entire album dedicated to the Golden Ratio.

I love this record. Not only because it’s a wonderfully bizarre song that works as a great into to my jogging mix, but because I snagged it off of a single-sided vinyl, which I can use to calibrate my turntable’s anti-skate. No idea what I’m talking about? You will when I drop my guide to recording vinyl next week!

One Hour and 41 Seconds of Moby Remixes

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Let’s all dance to music made by a tiny bald man.

Moby
Extreme Ways (Lee Combs Remix)
Extreme Ways (John Creamer + Stephane K Remix)
In This World (T&F Vs. Moltosugo Club Mix)
In This World (ATFC’s Southern Fried Vocal)
In My Heart (Ferry Corsten Remix)
In My Heart (Sean Tyas Misses Twilo Mix)
We Are All Made Of Stars (DJ Tiesto’s Full Vocal Remix)
We Are All Made Of Stars (Timo Maas Dub Remix)

These are all good remixes, although the mixes for “Extreme Ways” deconstruct that song so much that it becomes nearly unrecognizable. Depending on your feelings for that song, that may not necessarily be a bad thing.

What is definitely not a bad thing is the Ferry Corsten Remix of “In My Heart.” In fact, I’m just going to go pull my hyperbole lever all the way to the max and proclaim that this remix is fucking spectacular. “In My Heart” is based on a gospel sample. Gospel music, by its very definition is uplifting. You combine that with a remix by one of the international masters of uplifting trance, and you got a song that could probably get the most miserable of bastards on the dance floor and loving life for at least seven and a half minutes.

Seriously, if you’re feeling down, a good uplifting trance mix do more to alter your mood than Prozac (I should know, I’ve tried both). For example, when I was at Ultra last year I spent most of the festival hating everyone and everything. The heat was getting to me, the rude people were annoying the piss out of me, and the corrupt and evil promoters made me want to report their illegal activities to the cops. But whenever I wandered within earshot of any DJ playing a solid uplifting trance set, all my negative feelings and anger towards the countless drugged out asshats that surrounded me would melt away and be replaced with me going “OH MY GOD I JUST WANT TO DANCE TO THIS ALL DAY! OH HI! HOW ARE YOU? MY NAME IS JAMES! DON’T YOU JUST WANT TO DANCE TO THIS ALL DAY? I KNOW! IT’S SO GOOD! WHAT? NO, SORRY, I DON’T HAVE ANY COCAINE!”

I guess some people needed additional means to “uplift.”

Enjoy the mixes, I hope to get one more post in tomorrow, but if I do not, I hope you all have a wondrous weekend.

Masturbation Jokes and Blog Announcements

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

The Official Lost Turntable Guide to Ripping Vinyl is coming! It might be a few weeks though, whenever I get going on it I find myself rambling for a bit before I focus. Look for it next week I hope.

But you know what you can look for right now? My new blog!

I’ve been doing this blog for about six years now (holy shit!) and while I’m going to keep doing it for as long as I can, I find its format rather limiting sometimes. Recently, I’ve become fascinated with bands so obscure that I don’t feel like they fit The Lost Turntable. Also, I’d like to have something that doesn’t host MP3s, so I can put ads on it and use it as a reference on the off chance I get another music writing gig.

So with that, I’ve started Random Record Reviews. It’s format is simple: once a week, I’ll grab a random obscure record that I’m sure no one has ever heard of and I’ll review it. My goal: to find a hidden gem that time forgot. I didn’t find it with my first post (thanks a lot Zamp) but I’m not going to stop until I do, and then I’ll probably keep going anyway.

Okay, now that I got all that out of the way, let’s listen to some electronic music. Small post tonight, I’ll have more electronic music tomorrow.

Also, get used to the electronic-themed posts for the next couple of weeks, I just bought $200 worth of 12″ singles.

BT
Smartbomb (BT Mix)
Smartbomb (Plump DJs Mix)
The Plump DJs Mix of “Smartbomb” is in my Top 10 list for best electronic songs of the early 00s. I first discovered it via SSX Tricky, and I’m ecstatic that I was able to track down an extended version on a 12″ Single. I don’t want to talk to much about it. Just download it, it’s great.

Meat Beat Manifesto
Prime Audio Soup (Vegetarian Soup by Boards of Canada)
Prime Audio Soup (Dub)
Prime Audio Soup (The Herbaliser Remix)
I can’t decide which is worse, a band named Meat Beat Manifesto or a song called “Prime Audio Soup.” Did I ever tell my joke about how I think that Meat Beat Manifesto should go on tour with the Circle Jerks? At the end of the show both bands could come onstage together and do a joint cover of “Turning Japanese.”

They could call it the Masturbatour.

Thank you! Goodnight!

Happy Mondays on a Thursday makes for a great Friday

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

I’ve been thinking of putting together a guide of some sorts showing how I record vinyl, would that be something any of you might be interested in? I’m trying to figure out what to focus on. Should I talk about hardware, like what cartridge and turntable to get, or is that bit kind of played out? I feel like people with far more technical know-how than I have covered that topic to death.

What about something about how to get the most out of the vinyl you got; a guide to recording beat-up and worn down records? Would anyone care to read that? Turning a scratched, beat-up 12″ single that was in the bottom of some DJ’s crate for a decade into digital gold isn’t easy, I hope you realize that. If you’re reading this post and you are interested in what I have to say about recording vinyl, leave a comment with some suggestions as to what you’re most keen on learning about, it’ll give me a good starting point.

Just don’t ask me for insight about writing a thematically consistent blog post with similar artists. I’m really bad at that.

Madonna
Music (HQ2 Club Mix)
Music (Groove Armada 12″ Mix)
Music (Calderone Anthem Mix)
Music (Deep Dish Dot Com Remix)
Music (The Young Collective Club Remix)
Searching to see if any of these remixes were commercially available (and hence not eligible to be on this blog) was a royal pain in the ass because when you do a search for “Madonna Music remix” on iTunes or Amazon’s MP3 store I think they just eliminate “music” from the search field. I wonder how many idiots actually do searches on iTunes for “Lady Gaga Music,” as if the “music” part wasn’t implied already?

Searchword unfriendly titles notwithstanding, these are all excellent mixes to a great song. Most of them are freaking long too, those five remixes add up to nearly an hour of music. That’s a lot of “Music.”

Sorry.

Happy Mondays
Step On (Stuff In It Mix)
Step On (One Louder Mix)
Step On (U.S. Dub It In Mix)

Wrote For Luck (Radio Mix)
Wrote For Luck (Dance Mix)
Wrote For Luck (Club Mix)
I was originally going to post these on a Monday, but I thought that would be a bit too literal. Besides, no one actually has a happy Monday.

I own shockingly few Happy Mondays records, and no proper albums by them. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve fallen in love with nearly everything I’ve ever heard from the group, although I know to avoid …Yes Please! like the Factory Records destroying clusterfuck of heroin that it is.

They just got back together didn’t they? I assume they’re not going to play the states, leaving us few Americans with decent taste out in the cold. They should do a double-headlining tour with The Stone Roses here in the states. I know neither of those bands were as huge in America as they were in the UK and the rest of the world, but I bet that team-up could even sell out arenas here. That, and ecstasy dealers would make a bloody fortune.

If you’re wondering where the “Twistin My Melon” mix is, I didn’t include it because you can buy that one on Amazon and iTunes. And if you’re wondering what “Twistin my melon” means, sorry I can’t help you there either.

80s Dance Remixes Brought to you by The Letter “W”

Friday, January 20th, 2012

I would have included some Was (Not Was) stuff but I have to re-record those and I’m really tired.

Wang Chung
Let’s Go! (Shep’s Mix)
Let’s Go! (Dub Mix)

Before I go any further, I think we need to discuss this video for this song.

Go ahead and watch it. I’ll wait.

That was something huh? A while ago I said that Pretty Poison’s “Catch Me I’m Falling” was the most 80s shit ever. But I think we have a new champion. Lets’ count the 80isms:

  • Truly horrible blue-screen effects
  • Needless stop-motion animation
  • Random people doing random things (Russian dancers! Sumo Wrestlers!)
  • A disembodied head
  • A woman whose face is 40% make-up
  • Knee-length sports jackets
  • A British dude wearing a bolo tie

I’m calling it. This video is the most 80s shit ever. But that’s not even the most random thing about this track! Check out the cover to the 12″ single from where these remixes were culled.

What the hell is going on there? Is he grabbing the other guy’s scarf like they’re about to make out (not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course)? And what’s up with those color photos? It’s looks like they’re telling each other dirty jokes while they’re waiting for the bus.

The only logical conclusion I can come to in regards to this cover is that art designer for this sleeve was given stills from the video and he said “Um…no thanks, I got these b-roll pictures that the photographer was using to set up the focus. No, the guys didn’t know they were being photographed, but I think it’ll work just fine.”

Oh yeah, the song! It’s good Wang Chung. I’d rate it above “Dance Hall Days” but below “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” It’d definitely one of those silly upbeat 80s songs that should have been in a montage sequence to a B-grade Brat Pack film. It’s a lot of fun.

The Waitresses
Bread And Butter (Remix)
Bread And Butter (Dub Mix)
Ohio New Wave representing motherfucker!

I am not one to debate the pop perfection of The Waitresses’ sole hit, “I Know What Boys Like,” it’s an amazing tune, and really a one-of-a-kind hit when you think about it. That being said, I think this great track is even better. Patty Donahue’s droll voice was great when she was singing about boys, but it was even better in songs like this, which have some not-so-subtle social commentary on life in the 80s. I don’t think there was ever a singer as blatantly sarcastic as Patty, and I doubt that will ever will again in the overly auto-tuned pop landscape that we are subjected to today. Pity.

Transgendered Cabin Boys, Religious Symbolism and Gay Dance Duos – Just Another Day in 80s Pop Music

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Seriously, the musical landscape of the 90s didn’t have shit on the randomness of the 80s.

Kate Bush
Alternative Hounds Of Love
The Handsome Cabin Boy
I’m going to level with you,I don’t know what’s so “alternative” about this mix of “Hounds Of Love’ aside from the fact that it’s about 50 seconds longer than the original album version. It has the “do-we-do-do do-we-da-da” and those awesome drums still, so it still kicks ass.

The real star here is the B-side, “The Handsome Cabin Boy.” I had never heard of this tune before, but after some quick online research, I’m now absolutely fascinated by it. This is a traditional folk song…about a woman who tries to pass as a man on a ship, only to have an affair with the captain and his wife (and possibly some of the crew as well) before she ends up pregnant. Bisexuality, transgender issues and the prevalence of homosexuality on the seas! That’s a mighty progressive traditional folk song! Anyone out there now how old this tune is?

Bush’s treatment of the song is absolutely haunting, its nothing more than her voice and some very subtle synthesizers-as-chorus melodies. Its haunting, and it leaves the message and meaning of the song bare for your to take in. It was completely the right way to go. Any attempt at “mainstreaming” this song as a single would probably just make it come off as a joke in poor taste. Best to let the lyrics and the message speak for themselves.

Book Of Love 
Counting The Rosaries (Full Confession Mix)
Counting The Rosaries (Full Confession Dub)
Counting The Rosaries (Happiness & Love Mix)
Counting The Rosaries (Crying Angels Mix)
Sunny Day (Heal Your Positive Body Mix)
I rarely wish I was a religious person. Okay, scratch that, I almost never wish I was a religious person. The only times I do is when it could help my understand of pop culture with religious overtones. For example, I hear songs like this and am left with absolutely no clue as to what it is about due to my blissful ignorance. Anyone care to fill me in? Regardless of what this song is actually about, these remixes are pretty great. Best dance tune about…something religious(???) that I’ve heard all week.

Pet Shop Boys
Always On My Mind (12″ Verision Phil Harding Mix)
I somehow had this 12″ single in my “to record” bin for two years and never got around to it. Stupid me. Now that I have it recorded and filed, however, it brings my Pet Shop Boys singles collection to an even 40. I think that gives me an official ranking of “fabulous.”

The Best Stuff

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

I was planning on posting one more Star Wars LP, an audio story called Rebel Mission To Ord Mantell. However, it turns out you can get that right here. Why don’t you just do that instead if you’re interested in Star Wars? I’m more interested in posting some bloody music tonight.

Winter. It sucks doesn’t it? If you live in the Midwest (which is reason enough to be depressed), tonight you’re probably bracing for your first big winter storm. That’s never fun.

And I don’t know about you, but I’ve been reading a lot of super-depressive news stories as of late. Probably has something to do with the fact that the Republicans are in the news. They usually take away the fun for everyone.

But fuck that weak shit! Let’s get back into happy fun times! If you download all the music in tonight’s post and don’t smile at least once, call a crisis center, you probably need serious medical help. Or maybe drink some whiskey. That usually helps me.

The B-52s
Good Stuff (12″ Remix)
Good Stuff (Remix Edit)
I listen to a lot of remixes. Seriously. A lot.  As of right now, I have exactly 53,361 songs in my iTunes library. Of them, 2,357 are remixes. That means that nearly one out of every 20 songs in my library is a remix of some sort.

Now, with that in mind, the 12″ remix of Good Stuff might be my favorite remix of all time. And if it’s not the best, it’s certainly the most fun.

It’s amazing what a few layers of synthesizers and a pumped up beat can do. While the original version of “Good Stuff” is beyond great, I think it’s held back as a dance song because it’s still trying to be a bit of a rock song. This version says fuck that, and rips out nearly all the guitars and replaces them with synthesizers, horns and synthesizers that sound like horns. Then it takes the beat and bass and makes them about twice as loud. It may not seem like much, but the end result is a brilliant explosion of feel good vibes and happy times for all. It’s so upbeat and full of energy that scientists should take samples of it and study it for use as a possible fuel source.

You need this song in your life. Today.

Oh, and the edited version is good too, if you need a concentrated blast of awesome instead of an extended mix version.

Cyndi Lauper
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Extended Version)
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Instrumental Version)
I’m shocked that this extended version isn’t in print somewhere. Doesn’t everyone in the world love this song? Who wouldn’t want more of it? I’ll tell you who! Republicans! They don’t want anyone to have fun, especially women. Let’s dance party them to death. I’ll bring this song. You bring the Red Bull. It’ll be a long dance party, I think we’ll need the energy drinks until those scientists figure out a way to turn “Good Stuff” into a snortable drug that’ll make cocaine seem like rock candy.

Haysi Fantayzee
John Wayne Is Big Leggy (Groovy Long Version) 
I never heard of Haysi Fantayzee or this song until I bought this 12″ single. I don’t even know what motivated me to make the purchase, probably the song title, because what the fuck does that even mean?

I don’t purport this song to be…well…good, but I bet you’ve never heard anything remotely like it. And its certainly energetic and fun, and sometimes those are more important qualities for a song to have than being well-constructed or full of artistic merit. I’ll certainly listen to this song more than I will the latest Bon Iver album, that’s for sure.

As for what the song is actually about? Well, on YouTube, there’s a video of Haysi Fantaysee performing poorly lip-syncing on Top of The Pops. At one point a trivia track scrolls across the bottom of the screen and simply says “Don’t Ask. It’s bound to upset the John Wayne Estate.”

I’m going to defer to that. It’s probably best if we don’t know.