Day 21: Sir Mix-a-lot (Not!)
Day 21 – Your favorite remix of a Depeche Mode song
This is THE hardest day of the challenge for me. Not because I just can’t choose from a plethora of mixes, but rather because I must make a confession: Compared to my fan friends, I know next to nothing about DM remixes. Yes, it’s true. Take me out and flog me with a thousand turntable needles if you must. I listened to the ones that came on the CD singles I have bought from Exciter forward, but only a few did much for me. I am not a completist*, so I’m actually missing most of the LCD remix singles that came out before I got into DM, so there are probably a great deal more I’ve never heard. However, I have downloaded several megamixes that I’ve enjoyed, particularly from Home’s Peter and Glen, as well as Tom Wax. I also have a host of bootleg/unofficial mixes that I downloaded from a share many years ago.. though I can’t say I ever waded through them all. I haven’t gone back and listened to Remixes ’04 in forever, though I did enjoy several tracks on Remixes ’11.In general, I’ve glossed over remixes because 1) they are personally hit and miss 2) there are just SO. MANY. REMIXES. I know there are some excellent ones out there, and I have a few that I really do love. I’m not sure I’m qualified to discuss my favorite mixes by virtue of never having heard them all! I feel like I’m picking favorite tracks without fully understanding the field.
That said, it doesn’t mean I don’t have an opinion for what I have heard. For today I will choose “World in My Eyes (Alpha Conspiracy Mix).” This is a great mix that somehow manages to make this song more sassy than it already is. Funnily enough, I learned while researching today that Andrew Sega was behind this mix, who happens to be half of IRIS, another band I have loved for well over 10 years now. I don’t think this was an official mix, but it’s quite enjoyable.
Honorable mentions: Oh Well (Black Light Odyssey Dub), Ghost (Le Weekend Remix) Here is the House (Gabriel and Dresden Mix), The Darkest Star (Holden Mix), Freelove (Flood Mix)
Because sifting through 30 years of mixes (official and unofficial) seems overwhelming to start, I want to know: what mixes should I actively seek out? What do you love? This is the corner of DM’s discography I have left partially unturned, and I am curious where to go to the next level. My only requirements are that some vocals and some semblance of the original sound/melody are intact. I can’t stand mixes that don’t even sound related the original song after the remixer is done with it.
*I want all the singles, but I refuse to buy the crappy American boxsets and haven’t committed myself to the couple hundred bucks it will cost me to get all the EU/UK import sets.
