Remixes '81 - '04: 2CD Edition

While many should find it enjoyable, others may find themselves questioning some of the remix choices for this album. We all have our own personal favorites, but even so, you still have to wonder why certain mixes were picked instead of others. The Dave Clarke Acoustic Version of Dream On (which is instrumental) was chosen over the Bushwaka Tough Guy Mix (or better still, what about the promo Morals: "Pink Noise"; "Pain Is Waiting" & The BRAT mixes??). Home (Air "Around The Golf" Remix) was chosen over the much darker and sensually appealing Grantby Mix, while the Beatmasters Remix of Route 66 was chosen over the less choppy and faster paced Nile Rogers Remix, which was never officially released on a DM single or album and only available on the now out of print Earth Girls Are Easy Soundtrack (if you've heard this version, you'd wonder why too). The great Stripped (Highland Mix) was passed over in favor of the less memorable but interesting remix: Breathing In Fumes, while I Feel Loved (Chambers Mix) gets included instead of the flashier and zippier Danny Tenaglia Labour Of Love Mix/Edit. The Afghan Surgery Mix of I Feel You instead of the Babylon Mix? Or the Krueder and Dorfmeister Mix of Useless over the CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Extended Mix? The DJ Muggs Mix of Freelove is good, but the Deep Dish Freedom mix would probably have been more preferable. Also of note is the fact that since Enjoy The Silence has received a 2004 remix by Timo Maas, the fabulous Hands And Feet Mix is not included. Again, many of these mixes will obviously come down to personal tastes. It's hard to please everybody, though depeche mode does try.

All in all this collection is very nice, but an even bigger remix collection is still in order. There are tons of great Depeche Mode remixes that were not used for this album: Black Celebration - Black Tulip Mix, A Question Of Lust - Minimal Mix, A Question Of Time - Extended Mix, to name but a few. In fact between 1981 and 1985, only 4 mixes from that era are included. It is nice to see the Master & Servant (ON-Usound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic) mix get included, especially since it has never been available officially on compact disc until now. But why stop there? What about the ON-Usound Mix of People Are People? Or how about It's Called A Heart (Emotion Mix)? None of these have ever seen the light of day in digital form and rightfully deserve to. It would just be nice to see a big 4-8 disc boxset come along (in the same tradition as the now out of print Depeche Mode Japanese X Boxset series) that included a larger catalog of DM remixes all in one collection.

Again, for what it offers, this Remix album is well worth the price tag. Lots of enjoyable mixes, fueled to feed the masses. Depeche Mode continue to leave us wanting more, but I don't think fans would really have it any other way.

Stay Devoted!

Tracklisting:

Disc 1
 
Never Let Me Down Again
("Split Mix") Depeche Mode & Dave Bascombe (1987)
 
Policy of Truth
("Capitol Mix") Francois Kevorkian (1990)
 
Shout
("Rio Mix") Depeche Mode & Daniel Miller (1981)
 
Home
(Air "Around the Golf" Remix) Air (1997)
 
Strangelove
("Blind Mix") Daniel Miller & Rico Conning (1987)
 
Rush
("Spiritual Guidance Mix") Jack Dangers (1993)
 
I Feel You
("Renegade Soundwave") Afghan Surgery Mix Renegade Soundwave (1993)
 
Barrel of A Gun
("Underworld") Hard Mix Underworld (1997)
 
Route 66
("The Beatmasters Remix") The Beatmasters (1987)
 
Freelove
("DJ Muggs Mix") DJ Muggs (2001)
 
I Feel Loved
("Chamber Mix") Chamber (2001)
 
Just Can't Get Enough
("Schizo Mix") Depeche Mode & Daniel Miller (1981)
 
 
Disc 2

 
Personal Jesus
("Pump Mix") Francois Kevorkian (1989)
 
World In My Eyes
("Mode to Joy") Jon Marsh (1990)
 
Get The Balance Right
("Combination Mix") Depeche Mode (1983)
 
Breathing In Fumes
Depeche Mode & Daniel Miller (1986)
 
Painkiller
("Kill The Pain Mix") D.J. Shadow (1998)
 
Useless
("The Kruder and Dorfmeister Mix") Kruder & Dorfmeister (1997)
 
In Your Room
("The Jeep Rock Mix") Jonny Dollar & Portishead (1994)
 
Dream On
("Dave Clarke Acoustic") Dave Clarke (2001)
 
It's No Good
("Speedy J Mix") Speedy J (1997)
 
Master And Servant
("An ON-Usound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic") Adrian Sherwood (1984)
 
Enjoy the Silence
("Timo Maas Mix") Timo Maas (2004)

There are some great remixes by top artists such as; William Orbit, Underworld, Beatmasters, DJ Shadow, Kruder and Dorfmeister, Dave Clarke, Timo Maas, Ulrich Schnauss, LFO, Goldfrapp the list goes on and on! You'll hear the same tune pop-up a couple of times, but thanks to the way these artists have re-crafted the records the experience is different each time.

If you can find a copy I can highly recommend the limited three Disc version which for a 'limited edition' is essential listening as my favourite disc is probably number three. I bought this album on a whim and although I was never the biggest fan of Depeche Mode, classics like 'Enjoy the Silence' and 'Personal Jesus' are such instantly recognisable classics any fears I had were washed away.

I can also highly recommend reading the sleeve notes which really help to frame this album in the context it was meant. An album for real music fans, not just Depeche Mode's.

But what this collection does, is make you realise how timeless these songs are , and how cutting edge Depeche Mode are. Always using the best and fresh producers and artists for their remixes. I could go on and on how good this is, its just simply amazing buy it now.

This would get 6 stars if it included the Quad Final Mix of enjoy the silence, but that was over 20 mins long, oh well,
LONG LIVE DM!!!!!!!!!