Bit of a mixed bag, although drum 'n' bass remixes are probably a little bit more prominent than is representative. Also I've left out Skream's La Roux remix as this top 10 isn't about relevance or scene prominence, it's just not good enough for my list (see 2009 retrospective)
#1
M83 - Run Into Flowers (Midnight Fuck Remix by Jackson)
Takes the slow progressing wave of noise from the pseudo-shoegaze original, tones it down, then rips it apart with the masterful hand of some kind of Aphex Twin-esque deity, the subtly popping beats sucking the volume out of the bulk of the track on each beat, with the effect of a regular brain-numbing pulse. It's just fucking beautiful, especially at 3:20 when that refreshingly cheeky tinny sample comes to play. Hell, do the dirty and listen to it while following the title's instruction (I mean midnight fuck, not run into flowers, although it's really up to you). #2
The Temper Trap - Science of Fear (Mistabishi Remix)
The first DnB remix on the list! This track was both the first I heard of The Temper Trap (and the reason why I'll never like their music even nearly as much as this) and Mistabishi. Pioneered by the ever-resourceful Tony 'London Elektricity' Colman on his Hospital Podcast, this track showed Mistabishi to be more than your average spacey producer. Having said that, this track is very spacey, listening to it does feel consistently like falling, very fast. Not one for the dancefloor.
The Temper Trap - Science of Fear (Mistabishi Remix)
The first DnB remix on the list! This track was both the first I heard of The Temper Trap (and the reason why I'll never like their music even nearly as much as this) and Mistabishi. Pioneered by the ever-resourceful Tony 'London Elektricity' Colman on his Hospital Podcast, this track showed Mistabishi to be more than your average spacey producer. Having said that, this track is very spacey, listening to it does feel consistently like falling, very fast. Not one for the dancefloor. #3
Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down (Duke Dumont Reconstruction)
Is this even a remix? I can't hear a single reference to the original, but that's not a problem! The first minute or so sounds like the soundtrack to some kind of dragged-out sickening revelation in a psychological thriller, like the protagonist has just realised he's murdered his wife or something. In as nice a way as possible. The remaining seven minutes cues progressively heavy bass drums interspersed with haunting vocal melody and slightly creepy xylophone. It sits very well on the ears and fits more into that 'mindfuck' style of mix, one for a three A.M. listen in bed.
Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down (Duke Dumont Reconstruction)
Is this even a remix? I can't hear a single reference to the original, but that's not a problem! The first minute or so sounds like the soundtrack to some kind of dragged-out sickening revelation in a psychological thriller, like the protagonist has just realised he's murdered his wife or something. In as nice a way as possible. The remaining seven minutes cues progressively heavy bass drums interspersed with haunting vocal melody and slightly creepy xylophone. It sits very well on the ears and fits more into that 'mindfuck' style of mix, one for a three A.M. listen in bed. #4
London Elektricty - Just One Second (Apex Remix)
Back to the DnB, and my Hospital Records bias is really starting to show at this point... This track took the gentle melody of the original but took away all that slight unease that tends to accompany a lot of LE's tracks - that weird discord between the heaviness of his breakbeats and the annoying lounginess of his house-inspired live samples - by smearing the whole thing in reverberated atmosphere, giving the female vocals so much more weight. I hate to say it but this is one of those rare family-friendly DnB tracks, but with all the spine-tingling feel of more underground ambient and techy jungle. Lovely.
London Elektricty - Just One Second (Apex Remix)
Back to the DnB, and my Hospital Records bias is really starting to show at this point... This track took the gentle melody of the original but took away all that slight unease that tends to accompany a lot of LE's tracks - that weird discord between the heaviness of his breakbeats and the annoying lounginess of his house-inspired live samples - by smearing the whole thing in reverberated atmosphere, giving the female vocals so much more weight. I hate to say it but this is one of those rare family-friendly DnB tracks, but with all the spine-tingling feel of more underground ambient and techy jungle. Lovely. #5
Grum - Heartbeats (Weird Tapes Remix)
As you'll see from my 'Year of Tapes' section in the 2009 retrospective below, I've got a lot of love for this producer, and his remixes just keep on giving. The original was a bit annoying in a 16-bit old skool bleepy kinda way, but Mr. Tapes breathed new life into it in a wonderfully innocent-sounding bleary way. It's as ever-changing as all his remixes and just as catchy. BUT he did a few of these which are probably as good, so also try his bouncier Peter Bjorn & John - It Don't Move Me (Weird Tapes Remix) and his unbeatably joyful Fool's Gold - Nadine (Memory Tapes Version).
Grum - Heartbeats (Weird Tapes Remix)
As you'll see from my 'Year of Tapes' section in the 2009 retrospective below, I've got a lot of love for this producer, and his remixes just keep on giving. The original was a bit annoying in a 16-bit old skool bleepy kinda way, but Mr. Tapes breathed new life into it in a wonderfully innocent-sounding bleary way. It's as ever-changing as all his remixes and just as catchy. BUT he did a few of these which are probably as good, so also try his bouncier Peter Bjorn & John - It Don't Move Me (Weird Tapes Remix) and his unbeatably joyful Fool's Gold - Nadine (Memory Tapes Version). #6
Enter Shikari - We Can Breathe in Space, They Just Don't Want Us to Escape (Grayedout Remix)
Don't judge the band for one second, their unique blend of hardcore and, err, (electronic) hardcore hasn't been matched thus far. This in-between-albums single was thoroughly underrated as well, its dramatic shift in sound to a more poppy, easily-digestible one put off many fans - that and it's bloody awful title. This very extensive remix twists the track about all over the shop, its nice and dark buzz-saw synth lead and sinister delays adding a whole level of depth to the track. It all comes together in a nice melodic climax, after a fair few minutes.
Enter Shikari - We Can Breathe in Space, They Just Don't Want Us to Escape (Grayedout Remix)
Don't judge the band for one second, their unique blend of hardcore and, err, (electronic) hardcore hasn't been matched thus far. This in-between-albums single was thoroughly underrated as well, its dramatic shift in sound to a more poppy, easily-digestible one put off many fans - that and it's bloody awful title. This very extensive remix twists the track about all over the shop, its nice and dark buzz-saw synth lead and sinister delays adding a whole level of depth to the track. It all comes together in a nice melodic climax, after a fair few minutes. #7
The Prodigy - Omen (Noisia Remix)
I had to fit the Prodigy in somehow! Although a little repetitive, I think the breakbeat ensemble deserve a lot of respect here for producing one of the few decent remixes of the band that came out of the last album (and there were A LOT). I love the original, and this doesn't do what other remixes did and just shift the tempo and chuck a load of beats over it to try and ADD anything, because there's nothing to add, Liam Howlett is the master of the big beat mix, and can't be bettered. That's why this fairly adventurous substitute of a lot of the original's beats and synth lines works so well, it's classic Noisia grimey synth dives perfect for the dance floor. I also enjoyed Sub Focus' remix of Take Me to the Hospital, but then I am Sub Focus' bitch...
NOTE - it's worth buying the original of the Noisia remix off iTunes as the full-length HQ version is tricky to find otherwise.
#8
Ellie Goulding - Under the Sheets (Pariah Remix)
This apparently upcoming folktronica songstress has only impressed me when remixed. This version retains only minimal snippets of her vocals, comprising a beautifully ambient dub-tempo remix overall, with a gradual upsurge in danceability. Jakwob also remixed this track (here) in more traditional dubstep fashion, but his dubstepping over her Starry Eyed (here) is what brings wobbly tears to my eyes.
The Prodigy - Omen (Noisia Remix)
I had to fit the Prodigy in somehow! Although a little repetitive, I think the breakbeat ensemble deserve a lot of respect here for producing one of the few decent remixes of the band that came out of the last album (and there were A LOT). I love the original, and this doesn't do what other remixes did and just shift the tempo and chuck a load of beats over it to try and ADD anything, because there's nothing to add, Liam Howlett is the master of the big beat mix, and can't be bettered. That's why this fairly adventurous substitute of a lot of the original's beats and synth lines works so well, it's classic Noisia grimey synth dives perfect for the dance floor. I also enjoyed Sub Focus' remix of Take Me to the Hospital, but then I am Sub Focus' bitch... NOTE - it's worth buying the original of the Noisia remix off iTunes as the full-length HQ version is tricky to find otherwise.
#8
Ellie Goulding - Under the Sheets (Pariah Remix)
This apparently upcoming folktronica songstress has only impressed me when remixed. This version retains only minimal snippets of her vocals, comprising a beautifully ambient dub-tempo remix overall, with a gradual upsurge in danceability. Jakwob also remixed this track (here) in more traditional dubstep fashion, but his dubstepping over her Starry Eyed (here) is what brings wobbly tears to my eyes. #9
Deadmau5 - Ghosts 'N' Stuff [Feat. Rob Swire] (Nero Remix)
I'm being very biased here, as this track happens to completely represent a poignant memory of sheer madness and excitement coupled with a general atmosphere of substance-fuelled bravado (the opening DJ set to a Chase & Status live show) for me. But I think that might come across in its unfathomably grimey drop at 1:59 - you'll understand. This remix is actually unnecessarily long and repetitive, if not a bit too slow, but played through a decent sound system it might make you wet yourself. Also in Sub Focus' bitch fashion, his remix is worth a listen, it's less long-winded and more consistent. Did anyone give a shit about the original? Rob Swire's probably got better things to do, fingers crossed Pendulum don't descend completely into chart-friendly rock 'n' bass.
#10
Gossip - Love Long Distance (Fake Blood Remix)
I'm not sure anyone paid much attention to this year's gossip album, I know I went no further than the first single and this remix, but perhaps that was foolish of me. Anyway Fake Blood has done well with this ultra dance-floor friendly blend of guitar pop and electro house, his signature sampled 'fake blood' vocal tag at 2:59 securing his respect in cool indie clubs across the western world. I think this works better than Soulwax's earlier remix of Standing in the Way of Control, and beating Soulwax says you're doing well.
Deadmau5 - Ghosts 'N' Stuff [Feat. Rob Swire] (Nero Remix)
I'm being very biased here, as this track happens to completely represent a poignant memory of sheer madness and excitement coupled with a general atmosphere of substance-fuelled bravado (the opening DJ set to a Chase & Status live show) for me. But I think that might come across in its unfathomably grimey drop at 1:59 - you'll understand. This remix is actually unnecessarily long and repetitive, if not a bit too slow, but played through a decent sound system it might make you wet yourself. Also in Sub Focus' bitch fashion, his remix is worth a listen, it's less long-winded and more consistent. Did anyone give a shit about the original? Rob Swire's probably got better things to do, fingers crossed Pendulum don't descend completely into chart-friendly rock 'n' bass. #10
Gossip - Love Long Distance (Fake Blood Remix)
I'm not sure anyone paid much attention to this year's gossip album, I know I went no further than the first single and this remix, but perhaps that was foolish of me. Anyway Fake Blood has done well with this ultra dance-floor friendly blend of guitar pop and electro house, his signature sampled 'fake blood' vocal tag at 2:59 securing his respect in cool indie clubs across the western world. I think this works better than Soulwax's earlier remix of Standing in the Way of Control, and beating Soulwax says you're doing well. Miscellaneous Remixes
These few slipped into my iTunes recently and I thought they were worthy of a mention as they got me quite excited (note not excited enough to include them in the top 10):
Radiohead - Videotape (Xaphoon's Dubstep Remix)
The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy, Hey Girl (Soulwax 2ManyDJs Remix)
Phoenix - Fences (Neo Tokyo Remix)
There's always room for more 2009 DnB remixes:
Moby - One Time We Lived (Matrix & Futurebound Remix)
Mistabishi - From Memory (Matrix Remix) - nice, but doesn't better the original's drop
Bad Company - Bullet Time (Spor Remix)
Zed Bias - Neighbourhood (Logistics Remix)
These few slipped into my iTunes recently and I thought they were worthy of a mention as they got me quite excited (note not excited enough to include them in the top 10):
Radiohead - Videotape (Xaphoon's Dubstep Remix)
The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy, Hey Girl (Soulwax 2ManyDJs Remix)
Phoenix - Fences (Neo Tokyo Remix)
There's always room for more 2009 DnB remixes:
Moby - One Time We Lived (Matrix & Futurebound Remix)
Mistabishi - From Memory (Matrix Remix) - nice, but doesn't better the original's drop
Bad Company - Bullet Time (Spor Remix)
Zed Bias - Neighbourhood (Logistics Remix)
