BOTR vol 12

It has been a full year since the BOTR series graced this humble page.  And I do apologize.  I apologize.  But it is far better to apologize than to eulogize.  And in the end it is far better to actually post music than to take months off (sorry mates, but deadlines at work and real life adventures are simply dominating my time).

I started this series, and the BOTM series, because in my previous life I had much more free time than anyone else on the face of the planet.  Literally.  Well since then I landed a fairly demanding (and rewarding) job, a car, a girl, a life, a etc.  So I’m not sitting flush with free time anymore, but I still care.  Honestly, I still care.  So enjoy the remixes, witches.

mp3 : Bloc Party – Hunting for Witches (Crystal Castles Remix)
Imagine if you took Bloc Party and strained their music through a Nintendo soundtrack.  Then you added a grungy bass line and called it a remix.  Brilliant.

mp3 : Busta Rhymes – Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See (Valerna Remix)
Everything about this mix is perfection.  Busta spits like usual except this time the backing beats and remixed nature perfectly complement his nasty flow.  Rappers today wish they could drop lyrics like Busta.  This track is so good I’m tempted to simply stop now and publish this post.

mp3 : Chromeo – Destination Overdrive (DFA Remix)
This remix reminds me of Kill Bill.  Just when you start to think “OMG, is this ever going to end” you’re immediately stunned into silence at the beauty of the following moment.  Yes, it’s over seven minutes.  Yes, it’s worth it.

mp3 : Fenech Soler – Lies (The Phantoms Revenge Remix)
If anyone out there is looking to edit a sweet ass parkour video I highly recommend this song.  I don’t know why they should be lumped together, but it makes sense.

mp3 : Fever Ray – Seven (The Twelves Remix)
Hello 2009, welcome to 1974.  Or a Guy Ritchie film.

mp3 : Florence & The Machine – You Got The Love (The XX Remix)
I love the bass line in this remix.  It sets the perfect subdued mood and lets the string plucking float along like it was meant to.

mp3 : Ladyhawke – Paris is Burning (Cut Copy Remix)
This is another track that feels like it’s never going to reach a point worth caring about.  If you turn it off in the first minute you’re missing out.

mp3 : Major Lazer – Keep It Goin’ Louder (Feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze) (Diplo Remix)
I honestly should not have to sell you on this track.  Look at the group name.  Major + Lazer = Win.  This track = Massive Win.

mp3 : Major Lazer – Pon de floor (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix)
Oh colonial era drum beats, oh trumpet fanfare, oh crazy twisted drum and bass synth that cuts in after thirty seconds.

mp3 : Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (Ring Trick Remix)
Remember when everyone was claiming Passion Pit was going to be huge?  Remember when everyone was wrong?  Dead wrong?  Well guess what, no one cares anymore, because this remix is great.

mp3 : Peaches – I Feel Cream (Proxy Remix)
The opening of this remix could easily qualify as the essential ‘film noir’ of remixes.  I’m not quite sure if I’m supposed to think that is a good thing or a bad thing.

mp3 : Phoenix – 1901 (L’Aiglon Remix)
The first of three remixes of one of the most popular tracks of the year.  This takes a straightforward pop/rock track and makes it even more straightforward.

mp3 : Phoenix – 1901 (Pete Herrs Symphonic Remix)
If the previous remix was straightforward then this remix is literally so far out in right field it’s playing cricket.  It begins spread out and sparse but soon enters the realm of angels.

mp3 : Phoenix – 1901 (The Tremulance Remix)
I’m including this remix to round out the trifecta of what a remix can be.  We had a straightforward pop remix, followed by a minimalist symphonic remix/re-imagining, and this is a frenetic blip filled mix.

mp3 : Phoenix – Lisztomania (Redial Remix)
I know you’ve all be wondering what this track would sound like it was sped up and played frantically with more reverb than a live Prince show.  Well wonder no more.

mp3 : Radiohead – Videotape (Ring Trick Remix)
You can almost never go wrong with a Radiohead remix.  Especially one centered around the impressive track Videotape.  Ring Trick simply nails this remix.

mp3 : The Sounds – No One Sleeps When I’m Awake (La Dolce Vita Remix)
Sugar coated remix covered with whip cream, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles.  Bring your own cherries.

mp3 : Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
A fitting, wailing end, to this installment of BOTR.  The repeated “off, off, off, off, off” is what remix dreams are made of.

I hope it’s been worth the wait and we’ll all keep our fingers crossed that it’s not another year before BOTR returns.  Enjoy the music.

+ more @ twf hype elbows amazonmp3 itunes
add this post to del.icio.us / digg / facebook / twitter

BOTR vol 11

Alright, enough of my hollow words.  No matter how clever I aim to be you’re just here for the music.  I’ve got you figured out, especially all you who read via my feed.  Scalawags.  This is the Best of the Remix series.  Each month I scour the interwebs for what I think are the best remixes.  Here they are presented in an easy to read and easy to listen to format.  If you’d like to check out the entire BOTR series you simply click here.  Enjoy the music.

All the tracks in one zip file : here {zshare = left click)

mp3 : Coldplay – Talk (Junkie XL Remix)
This is an epic elongation of a fine Coldplay track.  Before you download and listen be warned that this baby stretches past eleven minutes.  It’s worth it, but plan accordingly.  This is my favorite remix of the bunch.

mp3 : Daft Punk – Something About Us (EASTAR Remix)
This remix, which I believe hails from about five years ago, reminds me a lot of seventies funk smashed up against standard Daft Punk.  Interested?

mp3 : Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out (Remix)
Who made this remix?  This is an official request for the hyper informed and well connected bloggers and blog readers alike to give me an answer.  Until I get it I’ll just keep listening to this destructive mix.

mp3 : Grafton Primary – She Knows It (Kap10Kurt Remix)
Simply gorgeous.  If you’re looking for a chilled out remix in this bunch of fun then look no further than what Kap10Kurt has come up with on this remix.

mp3 : Justice – Genensis (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix)
I think I prefer chocolate chip to chewy chocolate when it comes to selecting an afternoon snack, but when it comes to remix heaven I’ll stick with Chewy Chocolate Cookies.  I think a futuristic robot ate this song.

mp3 : Lupe Fiasco, Pharrell, Q-Tip, Sarah Green – Paris Tokyo (Remix)
This is yet another anonymous remix.  Anyone got the name of the remixer?  Anyway, if we were playing “one of these things is not like the others” this would be the track you should choose.  Where the rest of this month is filled with typical dance/electric/minimalist styles, this track is as smooth and fluid as we allthought Boyz II Men used to be.

mp3 : MGMT – The Youth (MMMathias Remix)
If you’ve been reading blogs over the past six months, or if you’ve ever stopped by to check out a past volume in the BOTR series, then you know that MMMathtias hits it out of the park each and every time.

mp3 : Moby – Ooh Yeah (Kris Menace Remix)
It’s a slow build for the first minute of this track but then it hits exactly the place you were all hoping this track would get to.  To be honest I’m not sure how much of the Moby original survives inside this new home, but it’s good.

mp3 : p e a c e FIRE – Sapphire (GRUM Remix)
Does the opening minute of this track remind anyone else of every single Final Fantasy game ever made?  There’s just something so overbearingly uplifting about the opening segment.  In a good way.

mp3 : Radiohead – Reckoner (Chark Mu Remix)
Radiohead + Chark Mu = enough said.  Download away.

mp3 : Snow Patrol – Take Back The City (Lillica Libertine Remix)
This remix takes a fairly solid single and mods it until it’s something not of this world.  It’s a brilliant reimagining of what Snow Patrol originally made.  Forget any acoustic guitar, this is poptronica.

mp3 : The Kills – Last Day of Magic (James Rutledge Remix)
If you’re stingy on filling up your harddrive this is the only track you should download and listen to.  This is exactly what a minimalistic atmospheric remix should sound like.

mp3 : Thieves Like Us – Drugs In My Body (The Bang Gang Deejays Remix)
The louder you listen to this remix the more you’ll like it.  Trust me, it’s meant to be moved to.  Even if you can’t dance this track will make you want to try.  And just wait until the vocals start.  Easily the best vocal effect I’ve ever heard in a remix.  Hands down.

Peace out home skillets.  That’s all I have for you this time around.  Tell your friends, check back often, and keep searching out great music.  {This concludes the regularly scheduled BOTR broadcast, thanks for reading}.

+ twf hype elbows amazonmp3 itunes
add this post to del.icio.us / digg / facebook