Artist Remixed is back to bring you the milky manipulations of your favourite singles. From the increase in bedroom producers there has been an even bigger increase in remixes. Artists are now making entire EP's and LP's devoted purely to remixes, something unheard of just a decade ago. One search on Soundcloud for an original piece of work leaves you strolling through pages of unfinished productions and poorly structured remixes. Yet, out of all the mashups, edits, screw ups, and improvements there is still gold to be found. Artist Remixed is your guide to bring you straight to the cream. Why search through pages and pages when EARMILK can sift through the dross for you? This weekly feature will showcase old and new artists of all genres, yet never an original piece. Artist Remixed was created to show you bedroom producers of all genres to feed your hunger. This week Artist Remixed features Justice. It will be split into two weeks with the first segment including remixes from Gaspard and Xavier's first album, Cross. Enjoy.
ANTHOLOGY
Anthology is defined as a collection of works sorted by a compiler. Today Analphabeth commences this mammoth list as our compiler. Artist Remixed has included this addition only a handful of times previously as it's rare to come across mashups of an artist's discography. After finding "Cross" several years previously, it seemed paramount to begin the list with a refreshing taste of all the signature synths of Justice. Press play and relive the music that ignited so many interests into electronic music.
RAP REMIXES
When the verse is extended or lyrics are layered over top a beat, rap remixes always bring a separate kind of manipulation. Mos Def and Spank Rock bring in an amazing remix of "D.A.N.C.E" that never loses its quality. The witty verse by Mos Def and edit of the melody are what made this track shine.
ELECTRO REMIXES
What's had our heads banging all along is that pounding, pounding electronic music. Keep on banging. First on the list is Ken Loi's energetic remix of "D.A.N.C.E". The melody is completely redone into a catchy tune that works well with fragments of the lyrics and a heavy Kastra's remix of "Phantom Pt. 2" pays tribute to the original catch of the classic yet has an electrifying new structure. By making a different synth intro he changes the original composition into a heavy hitting track. Auto leaves "Stress" relatively intact until the signature riff or sirens and an increasingly intensifying swarm of noise. Boys Noize finish the first half of this section with an aggressive touch to "Phantom Pt. 2". The robotic vocals make way before an acid inspired reconstruction of Justice's classic track.
Soulwax's remix leaves you breathless from start to finish with it's heavy synths that sound devastatingly nostalgic. The sudden disco vibe and light touch to the vocals makes it shine. MSTRKRFT's remix of "D.A.N.C.E" is a widely known classic that arguably compares to the original in popularity. This track was played out constantly for months at it's peek, the funky electro style MSTRKRFT mastered really made this track big. Kids At The Bar's remix is one of the few included of "DVNO", but certainly worth a listen. The some what dutch sounding lift comes crashing down into an energetic beat.
PROGRESSIVE HOUSE REMIXES
Progressive house usually is the cause of inner excellence vibes at concert, this section hopes to have you relive that moment with uplifting remixes. Addict Dj's take on "Never Be Alone" is euphoric, using barely of the original track expect for the memorable lyrics. From the initial chords to the electro fade away, the remix creates a transfixing soundscape.
BREAK BEAT REMIXES
From funky synths to choppy beats, break beat remixes are there for the moments when you need to get your groove out. NastyNasty starts this section off with an absolutely crushing remix of "New Jack". The shaky rework of the beat and smooth edit of main tune gives this remix its best feat. LA Riots created the heavy edits of the popularized vocal tracks "The Party" and "DVNO", which both leave tribute to the classic lyrics.
DUBSTEP REMIXES
Whether it's filthy, greasy or ambient bass this section will feature it all and expand into sub-genres depending on the artist remixed. PatrickReza begins this week's massive section of dubstep tracks with a teeth gritting rework of "D.A.N.C.E". What leaves the lyrics and melody relative intact completely shifts with a menacing start and complex finish. I will always remember first hearing Crizzly's remix as a premier on EARMILK in the heat of the summer. The original vocals lead you in helplessly to the onslaught of bass that crashes down mercilessly. CRNKN makes an amazing finish with a heavy twist of "D.A.N.C.E" that can't keep you from wincing.
TRAP REMIXES
From airhorns to 808 kicks, this section is purely for tracks that will get your elbows turned up. Maison Cartel make a heavy side of "D.A.N.C.E" that starts slow but comes down with raining synths and massive kicks. DJ Snake and Alesia create a shaky and bass infused remix that barely leaves traces of the original. This remix of "Stress" rocks you unbelievably hard with it's heavy intro and teasing sounds of Justice's signature sirens.
CHILLOUT REMIXES
Lying on the beach, driving through the streets, still wishing it was July, these treats are just what you need to give you another rush of that summer mindset. This is perhaps one of my personal favourites for beach visits. There is something internally good about the vibrant melody in CFCF's remix. The robotic auto-tune of the lyrics with a piano cover make this song forever memorable.
EXPERIMENTAL REMIXES
If it's instrumental, ambient, experimental, or just a strange sounding tune you'll most likely find it here, straight filtered for the interesting and artists trying new sounds. Jackson's remix certainly fits the qualifications for experimental as what sounds distant and aggressively glitchy becomes a dark rework of "D.A.N.C.E".
MASHUPS
Whether it's two songs or a list of hits, these tracks combine artist's signature sounds together to make a mix of music. Jeel's mashup has been circulating around the web for some time now, even at one point labelled as Busy P's mashup. Using Pedro's "Protect and Entertain" and "Stress", Jeel is able to blend the poppy lyrics into an intense tone.
JUSTICE REMIXES
Who better to remix their own work than themselves. Arguably the best remix of "D.A.N.C.E", Justice decided that it was going to put the cult classic to the test. The result was a darker side of the original with an aggressive tone and beat that shatters the song on its intro. Bringing us back to the days of head thrashing electro and statitic reverbs, Xavier and Gaspard also felt they had to remix "Waters of Nazareth". The heavy hitting beat and choppy structure display Justice's true style of remixing.
OVERALL FAVOURITE REMIX
Last but certainly never the least, we have the final tracks that are aimed to showcase new artists. This week we come to a stark tie between two amazing creations that both fit my ideals for a great remix. FareOh will begin of the two as it's a heavier remix. The light intro of the beginning is just a tease to what feels like a complete turn up when the song climaxes. The groovy remix completely reworks the main riff of "Phantom pt. 2" and extended the synths in an amazing loop. The reason I've given this my overall favourite position is because FareOh manages to combine his own style with what made this track so unique in a perfect blend.
This immense list of remixes, mashups, edits, revisions, and more comes to a finish with one final song from Le Crayon. The cheery tone and elegant edit of the lyrics is matched with a funky kick. Playing on a loop of that final "E", Le Crayon re-sparks the inner summer inside of all us with this vibrant remix of "D.A.N.C.E". Press play on the last few moments as you relive a remixed Cross.
