The best "Reckoner" remix

Photo credits: Truncata (flickr)

Nosaj Thing is hitting up Fortune Sound Club this Tuesday. I'm more than excited for this show. I've heard many of Nosaj Thing's remixes and even though they're slow for the most part, they're put together wonderfully and bring me back to reality.

Sneak peak: you won't regret listening to this if you like Radiohead and remixing. Best "Reckoner" remix I've heard so far.

Radiohead - Reckoner (Nosaj Thing remix)

Heaven Can Wait

So I think I might've found a new love. I listened to "In the end" from Charlotte Gainsbourg's new album, IRM, and fell in love with her remarkably soothing voice. After listening to that song, I quickly discovered the Nosaj Thing remix of "Heaven Can Wait." After doing further research, I discovered a couple of her videos. In one of the videos, Charlotte Gainsbourg described how her album title song "IRM" came around. She was influenced by the MRI's she had to endure after an accident. I thought this was an interesting fact.

I was really surprised to find out Charlotte Gainsbourg is an actress because she seems to be a really good musician. It's not often that an actress succeeds critically as a singer. Of course, there are the exceptions but most of the time, it's just like, are you serious? Charlotte Gainsbourg was also the woman who spoke in the beginning of Madonna's song, "What It Feels Like For A Girl", which is a song I really enjoyed when I was younger.

Her new album is produced by Beck and features him on a couple of songs. He appears in "Heaven Can Wait", the song and the video.

Even though the remixes I've posted are good, I still like the original of "Heaven Can Wait" the most, which also doesn't happen very often (as many know, I'm a remix lover). The remixes are still really cool. The Grizzly Bear version is slowed down with an organ, and the Nosaj Thing version is like slow electro.

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck - Heaven Can Wait (Nosaj Thing Remix)
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck - Heaven Can Wait (Grizzly Bear Remix)

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck - Heaven Can Wait

Best of 2009

2010 is just around the corner and I'm already getting excited about the music that's to come in the new year. As for music this year, I feel like there were a lot of great albums but not many that really grasped my attention for very long. My first choice was really easy but the other four were hard to rank. But I've re-listened to the ones I remember the most and the five that are posted are the ones that my ears seemed to like the most this year.

Number 1

Röyksopp - Junior, March 2009

Hands down, this was the best album of the year in my opinion. It was almost like a Scandinavian celebration album. With Lykke Li, Robyn, and Karin Dreijer Andersson (The Knife and Fever Ray) as vocalists for more than half of the songs on the album; I was very pleased and impressed. Even the songs without the vocals are amazing. "Röyksopp Forever" is an instrumental that is some kind of emotional and passionate electrorchestra. I'm not going to lie, I probably listened to "The Girl and The Robot" over 100 times this year. The bass is so intense, I imagine the whole world shaking every time I play it. This album makes love to my ears every single listen.

Röyksopp - The Girl and The Robot


Number 2

Vitalic - Flashmob, September 2009

Vitalic is classified as techno/trance but I would say Vitalic is just completely electronic. I feel like Vitalic put a lot of thought into the songs on Flashmob. Don't be discouraged by the description, the album isn't a complete dance fest. There are slow songs as well. This French artist has done a remarkable job of producing and creating his own music. Flashmob is an explosion of noise, i.e. beautiful noise.

Vitalic - Poison Lips


Number 3

La Roux - La Roux, June 2009

La Roux came out of England with some great 80s-inspired dance songs. I heard her first single, "In for the Kill", on Hype Machine. This song was followed up with "Bulletproof" and the album had a hold on me. "Colourless Colour" and "Tigerlily" are definitely my faves. One thing that really stands out on this album is the amazing lyrics. All the lyrics on this album are powerful, coherent and clear; an album well done.

La Roux - In For The Kill


Number 4

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, May 2009

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was a great, upbeat summer album. I remember taking a ridiculously intense summer course and listening to this entire album while studying in the library; it kept me from going completely insane. It was also a great road trip album. It had two major hits: "Lisztomania" and "1901." These were great but my favourites were "Rome" and "Love Like A Sunset Part I & II." It will always remind me of the summer of 2009.

Phoenix - Lisztomania


Number 5

Muse - The Resistance, September 2009

Even though The Resistance wasn't completely what I would have liked, it was still an album that was produced and thought-out well. This may sound strange but Muse has some kind of extra-terrestrial side to them that I've always liked. This album really exudes their out-of-this-world feature. The last three parts of "Exogenesis: Symphony" are amazing and finish up the album very well.

Muse - Undisclosed Desires



Best remixes/mash-ups of 2009:

1. Bag Raiders vs. Chromeo - Shooting Stars/Call Me Up
To be honest, any version of Bag Raiders' "Shooting Stars" is unbelievably elating.

2. N.A.S.A. feat. Kanye West, Lykke Li and Santigold - Gifted (Steve Aoki Remix)
Aoki remix of an already amazing song, enough said.

3. Fever Ray - If I Had a Heart (Fuck Buttons)
This remix has followed me throughout Vancouver for the entire year.

4. Lykke Li - Little Bit LIVE (Death to the Throne remix)
The amazing live version of "Little Bit" remixed into an 8-bit masterpiece with a heavy bass.

5. GRUM - Runaway (SymbolOne Remix)
Image: dancing in circles with confetti falling all around and pink lights flashing.

2010, here we come!

Reading in Bed Remix

Metric's lead singer/keyboardist, Emily Haines, released a depressing yet inspiring solo album in 2006 called Knives Don't Have Your Back. One of the songs from the album, "Reading in Bed", was remixed by 65daysofstatic (also known as 65days). The remix appears on their album called RMXSCEE (2008). Why did it take a year for this remix to fall into my lap? I don't really know but I'm so glad it's in my life now.

I had never heard of this British band until this remix but apparently, they are well-known for their off-tempo drumbeats. I love this remix but I did notice the off-beat drums after a couple of listens. I assumed it was intentional because it wasn't that noticeable. Turns out, it's 65days' trademark.

The remix mainly focuses on the lyrics "so sad." It's very different from the original; completely different aura, and I like it. The band manipulated jewelry box sounds and intense guitar into the song. I really feel like this remix was influenced by Broken Social Scene's "Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl", which also features vocals by Emily Haines. They emit the same kind of feeling. In my opinion, it sounds like 65daysofstatic wanted to recreate something similar to "Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl." Maybe they didn't intentionally do this but it sounds like it to me. And, I think they did a good job.

Emily Haines - Reading in Bed
Emily Haines - Reading in Bed (65daysofstatic Remix)

Broken Social Scene - Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl

Fresh Media and Fever Ray: All in one day

I know I've already posted an entry about this remix but I really feel like my day had a connection to this song.

So I thought I was supposed to be live blogging today at the Fresh Media Festival but it turned out, I was talking about my blog to future bloggers who wanted to learn more about the subject. This was good. I got to learn about other (more successful) bloggers and learn more about what people want.

Earlier in the day, ION magazine supplied the event with free magazines (these went really fast). On the cover of their issue this month is Fever Ray, aka Karin Dreijer Andersson. I don't know what it is but lately, this woman has got a hold on me. I'm intrigued with everything she does and all the music she creates. I quickly grabbed a magazine so I could read the article inside. To my dismay, there was no real article of Fever Ray inside. It was mainly a cover photo shoot with a small description of her on the same page as the Editorial Staff page. I was disappointed but still impressed that the magazine flew out to Gothenburg, Sweden to take this photo shoot.

So Fever Ray was one of the things on my mind from the start of the day. For the rest of the day, I was observing the people coming in, listening to what they had to say about fresh media/new media/old media, and soaking up everything I could. I took advice, gave advice and above all, learned many things.

At the end of the day, the Fuck Buttons remix of Fever Ray's "If I Had a Heart" popped into my head as I was walking in the downtown area of Vancouver. This song/remix always reminds me of how I feel about Vancouver.

This will never end 'cuz I want more. More, gimme more, gimme more...

These lyrics are repeated throughout this remix with a drum pounding hard in the foreground. Creepy noises accompany the pounding and it adds to the whole notion of searching for something you know isn't lurking far beyond that corner up ahead.

The lyrics and the overall atmosphere of the song always pop into my head when I'm thinking of good ol' Vancouver. And it especially popped into my head after this event because I feel like everyone kind of feels this way about Vancouver. Correct me if I'm wrong but we're all kind of searching for that something-something here. I'm sure this happens in every city but I feel like Vancouver is still evolving so it seems a little more obvious here. Vancouver is still new, fresh and its reputation is still developing. This remix/entry/day focuses on the lyrics posted above; people aren't going to give up on Vancouver ever, it's going to keep developing and its people will want more and will create more as time goes on. Just look at the event that occurred today.

I know I don't usually express my deep and heavy thoughts on my blog but I felt like this remix/song really had a connection to my day (even more so than other songs have in the past). Perhaps it isn't the original intention of the song, or the remix for that matter, but this remix has inspired me to interpret the song differently.

So let's keep getting more...

Fever Ray - If I Had a Heart (Fuck Buttons remix)

Fever Ray - If I Had a Heart

Ratatat (Remixed!)

GMGN remixed Ratatat's "Loud Pipes" into a crazy dancing machine. I've never really heard a worthwhile Ratatat remix so I was definitely skeptical. But I literally just put this remix on and I'm already dancing like a weirdo in my chair, therefore it is worth your time.

Ratatat - Loud Pipes (GMGN Remix)

6's afraid of 7 'cause 7 ate 9

Röyksopp's "Tricky Tricky", featuring Karin Dreijer Andersson, has an extremely dark exuberance to it. I feel like Dreijer Andersson (The Knife and Fever Ray) sings the listener through a dusky tunnel of possessed, scared numbers. I really don't have much else to say other than, it's pretty yummy.

And, this remix by Horror Shower is like the original but in this one, the numbers are dancing.

Röyksopp - Tricky Tricky feat. Karin Dreijer (Horror Shower remix)

"I called to say I'm on the way"

"Rome" is probably my favourite song from Phoenix's most recent album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. But I found myself listening to the song on repeat, waiting patiently for the heartbreaking bridge that occurs 3 minutes into the song (approximately). I just wanted that part of the song to last longer so badly.

As I was taking a glance through the recently created/released remixes online, I came across this remix of "Rome." I was very curious to see how it was produced. I wasn't sure if it was going to be dance or not. I'll tell you that I was unbelievably happy when I figured out this remix pretty much does exactly what I wanted the original to do so badly. The bridge is almost the entire remix. So sad, but it's perfect for those days when you're letting your mind travel while your body stands still.


Phoenix - Rome (Neighbors remix feat. Devendra Banhart)

Remix: "creating something fresh out of something stale"

I really do enjoy other people's definitions of the word, remix. In the documentary film, RiP: A Remix Manifesto, there is a sound clip that describes a remix/mash-up as: "creating something fresh out of something stale." I don't necessarily agree with this entirely because I think some remixes are improving, and/or interpreting, sources of media that are already excellent. Though, this sound clip does apply to a remix I've recently gotten in to.

Steve Aoki did an unbelievably amazing remix of...Good Charlotte's "Misery"; don't judge until you listen. It's pretty hard to ignore the emo lyrics (no offense to Good Charlotte lovers) but the beat and the completely new genre structure of the song make it so enjoyable to listen to, and dance to. I have a new found respect for Aoki.

Good Charlotte - Misery (Steve Aoki Remix)

Shelter

The Xx are a newly formed band from England. Their influences apparently fall all over the music genre spectrum. Their original song, "Shelter", is dreamy and nice but I can't help but like the remix by Them Jeans more. The remix keeps the dreamy attribute and adds a steady drumbeat, which makes the song a little happier to me.

The Xx - Shelter
The Xx - Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)

Dis-moi ce que tu pense...

Boys Noize did a "Euro remix" of his original remix of Sébastien Tellier's "L'amour et la violence". I love the original and the Boys Noize original remix as well. Though, after listening to the original BN remix, I kind of wished that the Boys Noize remix had a heavier beat so it could be played in a dance club.
The original BN remix has a slow beat. It takes the electronic ending of the original and stretches it out throughout the entire remix, which is really nice considering that is the peak of the original song. But it isn't fast enough for a club.
I saw that there was a "Boys Noize Euro remix" of "L'amour et la violence" about a week or so ago. I quickly became intrigued and realized that Boys Noize granted me my previous wish of this song.

Boys Noize is coming to Vancouver on November 6. He'll be playing at Celebrities, which isn't my most favourite venue but in the case of seeing Boys Noize live, it will have to do.

Sébastien Tellier - L'amour et la violence (Boys Noize Euro remix)

I'm Not Your Toy

I had briefly heard of Data a couple of months ago but I apparently didn't pay enough attention to him as I should've. Either his status has grown since I last heard of him or I've been super oblivious, but either way, this remix is really good and I wish I could've predicted this earlier.

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the original song, "I'm Not Your Toy." It sounds too much like video game music from a mediocre 90s game. Now, this Data remix is where it's at. The song is sped up and melodic synth is added. Yummy.

La Roux - I'm Not Your Toy (Data Remix)

Je t'aime, Sébastien Tellier

And I also really like Hypnolove for remixing "Fingers of Steel" so wonderfully.

Both artists are from France and specialize in romantic, sexual beats. This isn't the first time Hypnolove has remixed Tellier. They also remixed "La Ritournelle", which isn't as good as the remix of "Fingers of Steel" but is still decent. Check out my preferred remix below.

Sébastien Tellier - Fingers of Steel (Hypnolove remix)

Also, Tellier has a new video for his song, "L'amour et la violence"

Remix, Says Simon

Says Simon is an up-and-coming DJ/artist who has produced two recognizable remixes so far. One remix is of Boss In Drama's "Favourite Song" and the other is of "We Are The People" by Empire of the Sun. I definitely prefer the "We Are The People" remix; it's the yummier remix of the two.

Empire of the Sun - We Are the People (Says Simon Remix)

Little Bit Live Remix

Death to the Throne has done another Lykke Li remix (he may be as obsessed as I am...this is his third Lykke Li remix).

I downloaded this as a "Re-remix" but technically (in my opinion), it is not. It's another remix by Death to the Throne of Lykke Li's song "Little Bit" but it's a live version of the song remixed; not the original. Therefore not a re-remix of the same remix he did before...if that makes any sense. And frankly, this remix is one of the better remixes I've heard Death to the Throne do. He added way more than just a heavy beat; there's some crazy 8-bit keyboard noises thrown in there.

Lykke Li - Little Bit Live (Death to the Throne Remix)

Lose You

I've never really been a big fan of Peaches but this remix, and song, are amazing. I thought maybe I was only into the remix because Yuksek and Brodinski collaborated on it but I listened to the original and to my surprise, I'm feeling it as well. Apparently, I need to give Peaches another chance.

The remix is a little more euphoric and trance-like than the original but doesn't stray too far from it. Both are equally good for the dance floor. Check 'em out.

Peaches - Lose You
Peaches - Lose You (Yuksek and Brodinski remix)

Star Guitar

Remixer: Star Guitar

Remixees:

Band: Phoenix
From: France
Song Remixed: Lisztomania

Phoenix - Lisztomania (Star Guitar Remix)

Band: Metric
From: Canada
Song Remixed: The Police and the Private

Metric - The Police and the Private (Star Guitar Remix)

Runaway

Get ravey with this GRUM remix.

GRUM is a guy from Leeds and SymbolOne is a pair of twins from Croatia and Ireland. Apparently, they were separated at birth but found each other again and decided to make sweet dance music and remixes.

This is a nice remix. Listen.

GRUM - Runaway (SymbolOne Remix)

I'm in love with a robot

Remixes of Röyksopp's "The Girl and the Robot" have come to us. So far, the best seems to be Joakim's remix. Oh, and guess what? He's another French remixer. All the remixes I've been into these days seem to be produced by French people. But I guess that's besides the point.

This remix takes different parts of the song and mixes them up while adding external drums and beats. The best part of it is when Robyn's voice is overlapped multiple times in the middle of the song.

Röyksopp - The Girl and The Robot (Joakim remix)

Röyksopp - The Girl and The Robot

No You Girls

Danish artist, Trentemøller, did a sweet remix of Franz Ferdinand's "No You Girls." The remix starts out kind of simple but builds up really well and gets kind of intriguingly creepy. It's worth a full listen or two. Check it out below.

Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls (Trentemøller Remix)

Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls (Studio Version)