remixers

Truism.

And here is part 2, my Top 20 Remixes of 2013:

Imagine Dragons – It’s Time (Kat Krazy remix)

Released in the summer of 2012, these two remixes of “It’s Time” are not close enough to 2013 to merit a place on this list, but they’re worth noting because they’re both quite good.

Imagine Dragons – It’s Time (Cherry Cherry Boom Boom Remix)

20. The Vaccines – Do You Want A Man? (John Hill & Rich Costey Remix)

Interesting, trumpet-fueled take on a tune from a triumphant EP.

19. Monarchy – Video Games x The Phoenix Alive

I’m not categorizing this as a mashup since the vocal isn’t Lana Del Rey’s, so here it’ll rest. The “Video Games” vocal works really with with the music of Monarchy’s “The Phoenix Alive”.

18. Haerts – All The Days (Joywave Remix)

The come in at 1:56 is magical.

17. The 1975 – Sex (Liar Remix)

Liar’s remix leaves The 1975’s “Sex” almost unrecognisable, vocally and musically. The sadness of the original is punched in the gut and left for almost-dead.

16. Bridgit Mendler – Hurricane (Bit Error Radio Mix)

Dance-pop wizardry.

15. White Lies – There Goes Our Love Again (Torn Remix)

Slows down the pace but keeps the hooks.

14. The Wanted – Walks Like Rihanna (7th Heaven Club Mix)

Bewitching dance-pop, with a shot straight to the medulla oblongata.

13. Boys Noize – Ich R U (Justice Remix)

The robot likes to get funky.

12. Two Door Cinema Club – Next Year (RAC Remix)

RAC are reliable when it comes to remixes. This is one of their best. Possibly even catchier than the original.

11. Natalia Kills – Saturday Night (Lovelife Remix)

Lovelife kill this remix. Natalia’s Gaga drawl is put through the ringer and comes out unbearably fresh.

10. Chvrches – The Mother We Share (Blood Diamonds Remix)

As mentioned in the first list, Mike Tucker has been on fire the past couple years. From his Blood Diamonds’ music (“Grins”, “Ritual”, and “Phone Sex”) to his remixes, he’s putting his signature on a whole bunch of really cool dance music. This might be his best remix to date.

The following 9 remixes are on another level from all else in 2013…

9. Nirvana – All Apologies (Sound Remedy Remix)

A tip of the cap to CB for this one (check out her page here: https://soundcloud.com/careblundell). Sound Remedy have a way with remixes that’s utterly unique. Trying to remix Nirvana would spell trouble for almost anyone — not Sound Remedy though. They let the indelible riff of “All Apologies” do the heavy lifting here, augmenting it with a grace that’s rarely heard in the remix game.

8. Lana Del Rey – Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix)

Probably the most popular remix of 2013. Not much to say other than it’s a massive banger.

7. London Grammar – Wasting My Young Years (Kids of the Apocalypse Remix)

“Wasting My Young Years” is a gorgeous, heartbreaking song. Musically, it’s relatively sparse since Hannah Reid’s building-levelling vocal is the smasher, so the opportunity to give it a face lift was open for the taking. Kids of the Apocalypse took said opportunity, and did what could end up being their best work. This remix is a heart-pounding, bone-rattling Jaeger of a tune.

6. Vampire Weekend – Ya Hey (Ian Carey Liberated Version)

Ian Carey does something magical to “Ya Hey”, but I can’t quite pin down what it is. It’s not better, louder, or catchier. What is it then? Perhaps the name Carey gave to his remix says it best. Perhaps “Ya Hey” has been “liberated.” What a marvellous accomplishment.

5. Haerts – Wings (Shlohmo Remix)

The more I listen to this remix, the more I fall in love with it. The original is one of the best song’s of the year, and this remix, though much different, is right there with it. The original, with its gorgeous face; the remix, with its scar-marked face. The original, soaring to triumph; the remix, slithering to asylum. The original, a bright open space; the remix, a dark hidden place.

4. Mikky Ekko – Kids (Monsieur Adi Remix)

The poppiest of my favourite remixes of 2013. What Monsieur Adi has done here is make a really good pop song even better. Rarely can that be said of a remix. Wonderful effort on an absurdly catchy track.

3. Sky Ferreira – Everything Is Embarrassing (Krystal Klear Remix)

The original is one of the most ethereal pop songs of the past 10 years. Somehow, this remix retains the delicacy of its source, but pushes the shy wallflower onto the dancefloor, where all of its fears and insecurities melt away. This is a proper, mid-tempo house hammer.

And then there were two… Far and away, these two tracks were the remixes that affected me most in 2013:

2. London Grammar – Wasting My Young Years (Sound Remedy Remix)

Yep, two remixes of the same song appear in my top 7. And while I revere the Kids of the Apocalypse Remix, I’ve something more than adoration for this Sound Remedy Remix. At once, I adore it, I’m saddened by it, I’m completely moved by it. There’s a euphoria in the desperation here, and despite the disparate nature of those two feelings, there is a singularity at play that reigns supreme. It’s unfathomably difficult to conceive of such a thing, let alone achieve it, yet Sound Remedy have done it. Already, “Wasting My Young Years (Sound Remedy Remix)” is one of my favourite remixes of all-time. It’s also one of the best tracks, remix or otherwise, of 2013. Magnificent.

1. Alt-j – Matilda (Johnson Somerset Remix)

If you want to get lost for 7 minutes and 20 seconds, play this track. Hell, you’ll likely be gone for more than that, as the re-orientation process will take some (probably a lot of) time. Beyond the 7:20, there’s the time off work that you’ll need, as this track will force you into a solitary frame of mind in order to evaluate everything from love to space to time. And on top of that, there’s the time spent in the hospital, as on your slow stroll of self-reflection, the outside world became a moot point, though unfortunately, the car that hit you as you vacantly jay-walked across a busy intersection, did not. So yeah, I’m probably underselling it by saying it’s a 7 minute and 20 second commitment. The good news is, whatever trials follow after first hearing this remix, this remix will serve as the solace and the soundtrack.

I’d say this remix is soaring, but it’s more than that. Sometimes it soars, other times, it’s still. Whether soaring, or in a state of stasis, the song sees serenity and sustains it. Whether it’s at one of the several beat drops, or when Joe Newman’s haunting, unforgettable vocal comes in at 2:37, the serenity never ceases. There’s a remarkable peace here that is so elusive to the artistic experience, let alone music, let alone a remix. There’s a gorgeous, glowing sadness to the original “Matilda”, and somehow, by some manner of magic, that sadness is not dismissed, but accepted, resulting in blissful transcendence. This transcendence is what I seek in music; it’s what the best art delivers, and I’ve found it here.

Johnson Somerset, you sir, are a saint. I’ve taken the liberty of beginning the canonization process for you, hope you don’t mind. What you’ve done here, for remixes, for music, for me, I’ll never forget. Transformation, complete. (Until the next one.)

Love this album artwork. Remix After All.

Love this album artwork. Not of this year, but it is Remix After All.

Transformation can do many things to an object. It can make something louder, quieter, bigger, smaller, heavier, lighter, darker, brighter, and so much more. The process of transformation is of some measure science, art, and parts unknown, and thus, cannot be coerced into formula. Remixes seek to transform, in some manner, the source material into something new, fresh, and vibrant. The best remixes do this, and also pave a bridge of familiarity to the original. Developing something new while maintaining some semblance of the old is an enormously difficult task, and that’s why it rarely happens.

If a remixer is smart, the simple act of picking the right song to treat will come with a certain amount of cache, and will garner a certain level of intrigue (read: there will be a built-in audience). But that doesn’t mean the remix will end up being good. So many are not. There are some though, that are good, and some, even better than that. Not only do they transform, they transcend: the source material, emotions, and every so often, time itself. To be lost in a piece of art where an entire dimension (time) ceases to exist is one of the joys of the artistic process, and indeed, one of the joys of this life.

To remix is to change. The best of the best though, remember to keep something of the original intact, whether it’s on the surface or buried deep beneath it. The great Roman poet Ovid, in his sprawling poem, “The Metamorphoses”, gives us an idea that serves as supreme directive for approaching remixes, “Omnia mutantur, nihil interit (everything changes, nothing perishes).”

Here are my Top 40 Remixes of 2013:

40. Postiljonen – All That We Had Is Lost (Keep Shelly In Athens Remix)

39. Britney Spears – Perfume (Cheiro De Quenga Remix)

This remix is brand-spanking new. If I had more time with it, I’d probably like it even more. As it stands now, it’s already one of my favourites.

38. Lady Gaga – Applause (Liam Keegan Bootleg Remix)

37. Mo – Pilgrim (Ms Mr Remix)

36. The 1975 – The City (No Ceremony Remix)

35. The Knife – Let’s Talk About Gender Baby… (Planningtorock Rework)

Even though this is a remix, it’s far and away the most playful tune associated with The Knife’s super-dense Shaking The Habitual. Planningtorock always bring that fire. This is a sneaky prancer of a remix.

34. Moby – The Perfect Life f. Wayne Coyne (Fuck Buttons Remix)

I prefer this remix to the original. A slow burner.

33. The Neighbourhood – Let It Go (Ghost Loft Remix)

32. Puscifer – Breathe (Drumcell Remix)

Drumcell really Donkey Punches The Night out of this remix.

31. Ms Mr – Hurricane (Chvrches Remix)

It’s not like Chvrches were busy or anything — they only crafted one of the best debut pop records of the past 10 years. Yet they still found time to do a few covers and remixes. Absurd hot streak.