There are thousands of popular artists out there today making new singles all the time. With the increase of bedroom producers, though, the ability to simply download a whole studio that you can use right on your lap has made original songs more scarce. Now it seems that you're finding tens of thousands of remixes by artists with more and more ludicrous names, leaving you wondering, "Transexual Viking Sword Bro- what?" This weekly segment will bring you the popular remixes and the never heard of "Transexual Viking Sword Brothers" remixes of a (common) artist's singles. From all these bedroom producers we are seeing one thing, and that is absolutely fantastic, manipulated, warped remixes.
Surprisingly enough I've always wanted to make an Artist Remixed on Ratatat but never really got around to actually finding enough material to compile a full Artist Remixed. Still, this did not discourage me and it was after discussing about the next artist to feature on my Facebook page that I decided to find enough material to make it happen. When listening to the tracks below, I think it seems fitting that I mention that many of these remixes are simply edits with a changed beat pattern or a layered new rhythm; on that note, while listening to the remixes, appreciate them for the new sound and what the 'remixer' has tried to change rather then looking for a quantity of change.
For this week's Artist Remixed I've featured my top 5 favourite remixes and 3 favourite mashups since there were not enough versatile and diverse remixes to make up several genres. Most remixes follow Ratatat's own unique style of jungle electro.
Remixes
5. Satisfaction by Napalm Remix
I've choose Satisfaction by Napalm's remix for 5th place because of the raw beat it adds to the original. The whole remix itself is only 2 minutes long but it definitely captivates you for all 2 minutes. After a fast pace beat works you to the main milk of the track, you're enticed by a new structure that has a nice kick accompanying a catchy loop of the original riff. The main 'original' beat is dropped to give you a insight at what this track used to be and Satisfaction by Napalm then comes back to his manipulation of the track.
4. [Bracket] Remix
I was a big fan of the single "Seventeen Years" when it originally came out, it seems [Bracket] agrees with me. His remix is a heavier, faster side to the original and starts off with a fast pace to and a looped edit of the original to really set the mood for the remix. From beginning to end we get the same signature sounds from "Seventeen Years" but with [Bracket's] own sound using the song to sample parts and loop them. The main beat is much more aggressive which I find to my likings; which is why [Bracket]'s remix comes in number 4.
3. Broke for Free Remix
Broke for Free's remix is a great touch on the original ambient track "Cherry". From the very beginning the soothing synth in "Cherry" is kept yet Broke for Free adds a nice crunching beat on top of the track. Take Broke for Free's own twist and mix this with some pause and breaks here and there (not to mention every beat doubling or tripling) and what you're left with is my number 3rd favourite remix. This remix really stuck out so much to me because I loved the original and Broke for Free adds a smooth touch with a nice beat that none of the other remixes really seemed to master.
2. Faraji Uyehara Remix
Faraji Uyehara's remix is one of the few remixes in this list that really stuck out to me when I first heard it. Faraji takes the catchy tune of "Loud Pipes" that has most certainly been caught in almost every readers head at one point or another and turns it into something new. Mixing with sounds and experimenting, Faraji makes an aggressive side of "Loud Pipes". Again, playing with editing, chopping and screwing the signature sounds of Ratatat, Faraji takes "Loud Pipes" and changes the structure so that you can tell which track it is but a completely new beat pattern has been put in the original's place.
1. Animal Collective Remix
Although I usually prefer not to feature an already fairly popular artist's remix as my overall favourite, I had to reward Animal Collective's remix for the beauty that is is. Animal Collective is one of the most influencial experimental bands ever to come across the music scene and everything they make (let alone touch) has traces of their elegence and unique style of sound and rhythm. Their remix of "Mirando" is no exception. Animal Collective takes the original tune and turns it into a 10-minute ambient tribal mix that's simply the milky euphora Earmilk loves to hear. Enjoy.
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Mashups
3. DJ Hecnko Mashup
I really enjoyed Heckno's remix since it combines Kid Cudi and Ratatat, two artists that have worked previously together before. Every so often in EDM you find a rapper that works so well with electronic music (just look at Zed's Dead and Omar Linx). This mashup does both Ratatat and Kid Cudi justice. Enjoy.
2. Gavin Turek Mashup
Gavin Turek took her own vocals and combined them with some of Ratatat's biggest singles to make a amazing mixtape that has 6 amazing mashups. From the whole mixtape, my favourite mashup would have to be the combination of Heartbreaker vs Brulee. I found that these 2 tracks worked the better together then any other pair; through the catchy tune from the original "Brulee" to Gavin's own vocals you can't do anything other then sit back and be memorized by the utter flow of the two. Enjoy.
1. The Jane Doze Mashup
The Jane Doze (for anyone familiar with Mashup Mondays) is no new name to the mashup scene and has been producing fantastic mashups for quite some time. "Ain't No Drugs High Enough" was actually the first mashup I heard by The Jane Doze and is still my favourite. The combination of that old classic sound mixed with Ratatat's own specific jungle sound creates an amazing balance. There's not much more to say other than sit back, relax, and press play.
The Cookies for your Milk
Below is another big list of remixes and mashups that I gathered in my hunt for remixes that warp, twist and manipulate the sound of Ratatat in other unique ways. I would recommend checking out the rest of Gavin's mashup's since I really enjoyed listening to the whole mixtape as well as Nguzunguzu's remix and Noizfiend's remix. Enjoy!
