U2 Remixed

I don't think anyone will argue the fact that U2 has been one of the greatest and most successful bands of the past three decades, which is about the same length of time that they've existed as a band - in itself no small achievement. However, it's only very recently that producers and DJs the world over have finally figured out how to remix their music. These days, with a veritable slew of indie-electro remixes of every buzz band from Bloc Party to Black Kids (don't get me wrong, a lot of these are awesome in their own right), it's exciting to hear a new take on creative remixes of guitar bands. With the possible exception of the Justice remix of "Get On Your Boots" that I heard a while back, it seems that a more progressive house sound is the way to go when it comes to U2 remixes.

U2 - Magnificent (Adam K Club Mix)
U2 - I'll Go Crazy (Dirty South Remix)

Those of us who generally shy away from commercial music and anything with the word "club" in the title (myself included - most of the time) can rest assured: you will dig this. Bono's Magnificent voice (see what I did there?) soars above powerful beats and pulsing chords, carrying the sound to incredible heights. This effect is not exactly new to those familiar with U2's original music, but with the increasing use of vocals in house tracks these days, it's very cool to hear what is truly one of the very best voices in music today used in that way.


Both of the original tracks are off U2's latest album, No Line On The Horizon (Interscope), released earlier this year, which I really enjoyed, so I was pretty stoked to check these remixes out. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. Although I could see how the replacement of the rest of the band with more house-friendly sounds - with the occasional but notable exception of The Edge's guitar - might cause some lamentation among die-hard U2 fans, these tracks really do take the originals and create something entirely new out of them. Which, contrary to the popular belief that adding a club-heavy beat and turning up the bass on the EQ qualifies, is basically what remixing is all about. Mad respect to Adam K and Dirty South for these rad tracks.

This pic came up first when I searched for "magnificent" on Flickr. Rather appropriate, I thought.

Thanks also to my good friend DJ Burch for turning me on to these.

Enjoy.

We Plants Are Happy Plants

Following from my last post on dreamwave, We Plants Are Happy Plants has a new self-titled track out which I've been listening to on repeat all day. This Hungarian producer has created some radical tracks which I've been really excited about for a while now. It's dreamwave taken to a whole new level, with epic soundscapes that pull you in from the first beat and spit you out minutes later with with only vague memories of what you were doing beforehand. Subtle yet driving, delicate yet powerful, this music demands your full attention.

We Plants Are Happy Plants - We Plants Are Happy Plants

Trippy...

Like every other WPAHP track I've listened to, there's a lot of emotion in here, but it's difficult to place. It seems like there's an element of melancholy underlying everything (perhaps a paradox with the title), but I can also sense a kind of desperate hope in some of the chords. There's definitely a message in here, like a silent voice within the music trying to make a connection. Moving stuff, in many senses of the word.


The melody here is genius. If notes are the musical equivalent of words, this is pure poetry. Just close your eyes and try to make out what the song is saying. You may be surprised at what you come up with.


Another great thing about this track: despite its incredible depth in terms of emotional expression, it still has a beat and you can dance to it, which only adds to its overall power. About a dozen listens on, and I still keep coming back for a repeat. Very few tracks have that effect on me.

I couldn't get away with writing a post on We Plants Are Happy Plants without including "Apollo", one of the most incredible tracks I've heard in a very long time. I'm not even going to try and describe this one, but if you haven't got hold of it already, just give it a listen. You can't possibly go wrong.

We Plants Are Happy Plants - Apollo

If you dig, head on over to Load Aim Fire and get your hands on his 548 EP, which is available FOR FREE! Better yet, if you have the means, name your price and buy it. Ultrasensory approves.

(P.S.: Thanks to Kunk for this one.)

Dreamwave

So I recently discovered this new underground electro movement which supposedly sprung up in the clubs of Los Angeles and has since been spreading like wildfire throughout the US and beyond. Well, it's finally reached us here at the tip of Africa, and it's awesome. They're calling it dreamwave, which pretty much says it all. Think wide, expansive synth chords, dancefloor-ready beats, grooving basslines, catchy-as-hell wavy synth hooks and the occasional reverb-soaked vocal in the mix. So basically every song off Daft Punk's Discovery, but a lot less French. These elements combine in myriad ways to create club-worthy bangers as well as spacey, beach-friendly tracks. I include an example of each for your enjoyment.

Gunstar - The Dream Machine
The Whitest Boy Alive - Golden Cage (Fred Falke Remix)

Let's begin with the Gunstar track, a dreamwave banger if ever there was one. The moment you hear that crunchy, distorted synth coming in, you know this is gonna get big. Then, just as you're getting into that, it falls away to make room for a gorgeous arpeggiated synth line that builds and builds until the two come together along with a powerful beat that absolutely commands you to get up and dance.


How sick is it when those strings come in? Gets me every time.

I especially dig the way this is put together. Really simple elements that combine in a very clever way to create a thoroughly enjoyable track. Mad respect.

On the other side of the coin, the Golden Cage remix is a great example of how diverse dreamwave can be. The Whitest Boy Alive is one of my favorite bands at the moment, so I was pretty interested when I came across this track. I'm happy to report that Fred Falke has done a fantastic job on this remix, keeping the laid-back, minimalist vibe of the original track and adding a great synth element to the mix along with a beat that puts me in mind of cruising down the beachfront with the top down, with a song like this playing for everyone to hear as you drive by. To top it off, singer/guitarist Erlend Øye's daydream vocals sound even better with a healthy dose of reverb laid on. This is one of those tracks that would work equally well in a beachfront club at sunset or in your bedroom at midnight. Very cool.

If you dig, head on over to Binary and check it out. Pretty much the dreamwave hub around these parts.

Minotaur Shock - Muesli

I first heard this track a few months back, lying on the floor after a heavy jam session with the band. It was after dark and the lights were off, with just a green lava lamp glowing in the corner and the monitors at high volume. I recommend you find as similar a setting as possible to experience this song fully. It's artists like Minotaur Shock that really make full use of the vast potential for creativity and diversity provided by electronic music technology. This one-man act from Bristol has created some incredibly rich and varied music that contains sounds both familiar and completely unique, playing with rhythm, harmony and melody in ways that are often unsettling and captivating at the same time.

Something like that

Minotaur Shock - Muesli (listen/download after the jump)

At the start, the track sounds like some sort of minimalist neoclassical composition as two clarinets dance around each other in a sequential, rhythmic pulse, as if driven by a beat that isn't there. You can actually feel the sharp soundwaves hitting your eardrums if you play it loud enough. The subtle addition of what sounds like a marimba contributes to the eerie harmony, until a deep, dark bass suddenly engulfs everything. The climax is yet to come, however. The bass is gone as abruptly as it appeared, leaving only the marimba to keep the same steady pulse introduced by the clarinets. Then, out of nowhere, with no buildup, no warning, nothing...BAM! But I'm not going to spoil the surprise - take a listen.

I love songs that have the ability to create an image in my mind without using words. This song sounds to me like it's coming from the end of a long, dark corridor in an abandoned building. As you walk towards it, you begin to hear more elements joining in, enticing you to come closer despite the sense of unease they make you feel. As you near the end, everything falls silent, and then, suddenly, the music jumps out at you! Is it friend or foe? You decide.

If you dig, get your hands on Maritime (4AD) for starters. More of the same, but different.

Listen up kids...

In a perfect world, music would be freely and easily available to all. Thanks to capitalism, however, this is unfortunately not the case. Instead, we have established a vicious cycle where musicians (who need money in order to make good music) are forced to sell their music in order to continue making it. The internet makes it possible to share music with unprecedented ease, and at zero cost. Some would call this 'stealing' from the artists whose music is being shared, but those who argue along these lines rarely consider the huge advantage these artists get from their music being shared across continents and cultures, hugely broadening their fanbase. This enlarged fanbase generates greater revenue for artists by then purchasing their music and/or attending live shows. This is why we share our music.

In short: the music industry is changing, and it's time to acknowledge that. All music shared on this blog is done so out of a love for the music itself and with the highest respect for the artists who create it. If you fall in love with the music you find here, go and buy a record or go to a show, and help the artists you love to continue making great music. If any artists disagree with the above and would like their music removed from our archives, we will be happy to oblige.

That's it for the boring stuff. If you made it this far, thanks for your attention.