Today let us cover some Bloc Party remixes to commemorate the release of their new album, Intimacy (even though it came out at the end of October. No matter!). So when Silent Alarm came out I thought Bloc Party was one of the greatest bands ever, I’m sure no one else had that feeling (yeah, right). And also I thought that “Banquet” was one of the greatest singles released in the last ten years. (Seriously, that song is ridiculous). However, much to my dismay, their follow up, A Weekend In The City, wasn’t the stellar follow up I had eagerly been hoping for. I’m not going to lie, Bloc Party slightly broke my heart. I think I might’ve even teared a little. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good tracks, e.g. “Kreuzbergâ€, “The Prayerâ€, “Hunting For Witchesâ€, but nothing that grabbed a hold of me and shook me like the raucous sound of Silent Alarm. And it saddens me to say that Intimacy is even less impressive. But, to lift our spirits we will bask in the enjoyment of Bloc Party remixes.
website | myspace | @ webster hall | @ virgin mobile fest 2008 | Intimacy review
“Signs”
I’ll start off with Signs, which is off their latest album, Intimacy. The real standout track of the album. This is an extremely beautiful song and was even featured in last week’s episode of “Gossip Girl” in a very poignant (to the show) montage. A really tender song sung tenderly. Kele [Okereke]‘s vocals are cushion-like soft, sung with just a little energy and yearning, which blends ever so nicely with the mid-tempo sounds of the tracks; glockenspiel (orchestral bell percussion), a drum machine that sounds like a heart beating, and light keyboards. The romantic lyrics about a love having passed away doesn’t hurt either “I could sleep forever these days / Because in my dreams I see you again.”
MMMathias Remix
We still don’t know much about upcoming German DJ/Producer MMMathias, but he sure puts a magical treatment on whatever he touches. In true MMMathias style, he alters the song to be completely unrecognizable. The only real noticeable tie to the original is the orchestral bells. Even so, this is still an amazing remix. All of Kele’s vocals are gone, yes, no singing whatsoever, which is odd for a song that is really carried by its vocals. Yet it does no harm. The remix is charged with a faster presence but still maintains its mid-tempo aura. It starts with a heavy drum beat and is filled with spacey synths. The mix feels as if you’re in an astral dream. It also sounds like Christmas.
“Two More Years”
“Two More Years†was released post Silent Alarm. Given that it was crafted with Silent Alarm style, it is great. All from that period is present and accounted for; fast, clean guitars, quick and urgent (yet dialed down) drumming, some electronic beeping, and Kele’s perplexing lyrics. It is a quick yet emotive song.
MSTRKRFT Remix
MSTRKRFT inject an overdose of adrenalin into their mix. They throw in jagged, cut up guitars, very MSTRKRFT like, of course. They speed it up a few notches too and give it some power. What they do, that I particularly love, is that they take the last verse of the original (which is my favorite part of the song) and re-work the track to make it featured like the chorus. Perfect. The heavy bass line also pulls the listener out to make this a crazed, dance floor popper.
“Banquet”
“Banquet” needs no introduction; it is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. The track starts off with the iconic drumming that is so heavy you feel it pounding in your chest and then comes in the alternating, spiked guitar riff. From there the song explodes into the power house of half dancing, post punk rock that it is. This is a song that really never needs to be touched, but it’s worthwhile to see others play with it.
Phones Disco Edit
The Phones Disco Edit was featured on the Silent Alarm Remix album, so it’s Bloc Party approved. This is a good remix but pales in comparison to the original song. It sort of takes the life out of the track and breathes something new, which, though enjoyable, isn’t quite what it should be. It slaps on a 4/4 drum beat from a drum machine, a lot of altered space synths and jagged guitars. It’s faster, a little more haunting, a little more disco and probably more dance floor appropriate.
Boys Noize Remix
This remix is better, mainly because anything Boys Noize does is good. Boys Noize, Alexander Ridha from Germany, completely deconstructs “Banquet” and assembles it in a slower fashion, adding some funky, choppy, disco synths, making part of this mix robot-esque. It has that haunting feel that the Phones edit has as well. It also has one of the most fun intros of a mix I’ve heard, the cut up synth kind of bounces out at you.
Flux Remix
Flux is a trance era theme, fast paced and slightly awkward. I feel as if I’m being rushed through the song. Kele’s vocals are run through auto tune, which, as I’ve previously stated before, I love the effect of. This song was a big leap out of Bloc Party’s signature sound; you barely hear guitars and drums, all those instruments are silenced, alarmingly, by synthesizers and drum machines. It was a step in a different direction for the group and is reminiscent of the Euro club scene.
MSTRKRFT Remix
MSTRKRFT back again, significantly improving this song. They strip away the absurdity of the electronic/trance flavor of the track and bring it back to proper Bloc Party style with guitars and drums; basically making it more indie rock, yet leaving an electro flavor to it. It starts with a nice, bouncing piano melody that remains throughout the song and then added is the MSTRKRFT signature of distorted and choppy guitars and synths. That signature riff really drives this mix to the goodness that it is.
Photo: Dese’Rae Stage
Pingback: Remix Monday: Feist | popwreckoning