Have people forgotten how to remix?

[technoticau]

I agree with you all with what you are saying but if you are writing a new track, is it ok to call it a remix? It feels to me that, as mentioned before, this is totally a marketing gimmick. If it is completely different why are we calling it a remix? I think a remix should be a different interpretation of the original, like the expansion of the original.
If you don't like the original why are you remixing it in the first place? Either for money or you feel like some changes/additions would correct/improve the original. If you can take something that is average and then create a masterpiece out of it then you are the true remixer.
Hearing overplayed tracks is a different subject imo. If I am tired of hearing the same record, I wouldn't buy/play simillar sounding shit in the first place. So when I'm looking for a remix, It's either I know/like the original track or the remixer(producer) and have an expectation about what the remix would sound like. When you get a completely different track, it is a dissapointment as far as the remix business goes, although as you have mentioned before most of the times so called "remix" is much better than the original. And if all the remixes on a release sound the same, well then that's the label's fault.

well, yeah...

[DJVirulent]

Well, I liked the concept that Cisco of The Advent did of calling some of his remixes which had very little in common with the originals "remakes". Not only does it sound cooler, it dignifies the work of the artist who did the reworking much more than "remix" does, which implies you're simply rearranging predefined elements.

As a remixer, the concept of completely rebuilding the track into something different is very appealing despite being more work than a simple retread. As a record buyer, being able to buy a record with one track plus remixes and effectively get 4 unique tunes out of it is also a better bargain than a series of mixes with the same concept and layouts. To me a good remix should have at least one familiar element from the original tune while creating a different mood or perspective. Cross-genre remixes are especially interesting as well, such as the Kraftwerk Expo 2000 remix series that came out.

[dirty_bass]

Why then, if you want diversity, then get the artists to make original tracks and not pretend remixes.
A quality remix can still be a whole new tune but with recognisable elements and main hooks.

Admittedly with some techno, it gets remixed, and its a percussive track to start with. So there is no real hook to remix, but I always find these remixes (drumcode etc) tedious, and similar to a jukebox phukkin itself.

[death on a stick]

Why then, if you want diversity, then get the artists to make original tracks and not pretend remixes.

There's something nice about the idea of other artists creating something that is in some way inspired/based on another piece of work. It's also interesting to see how different the result that artist x produces is from the result that artist y produces.

[dirty_bass]

There's something nice about the idea of other artists creating something that is in some way inspired/based on another piece of work. It's also interesting to see how different the result that artist x produces is from the result that artist y produces.

Oh cmon, the real drive here is ego, let`s face it. Artist X gives Artists Y parts for a remix. Artists Y thinks, "yeah, I`m gonna kill this" and just mashes it all up and makes his own tune. There`s very little "inspiration in 70% of the remixes I hear".

The other motivator, is getting a bigger name remix for a label, in the hope that it raises the profile of the label, which is just kak really. Hijacking a piece of someone elses name.

Oh and then there`s the, "well let`s give the new kid a chance, but I don`t wanna get overshadowed, so I`ll make him do a remix, that way, it`s still a bit of me, rather than an original tune, cos he might do too good"

Call me pessimistic, but I`m sure there`s some truth in what I say.

[waldhaus]

yes dirty bass you are absolutely right! :clap:

and often the big names who are paid for a remix often do bad work, they are not inspired and it's more a job than art...

[MARKEG]

christ we've had some really awful parts through and it gives you no inspiration whatsover. but yet they still want the mix done. you really can't win in this situation and the result is something that really doesnt sound like a remix!

As bad as that situation is it doesn't compare to the " we don't have the parts can you just sample the record " routine ,thats my favourite ;)

oh that's hilarious - that's happened to me this week!!!! i mean what sort of inspiration is that?!?!!!

[dirty_bass]

yeah, that really sucks, I guess you can pretty much work out the motivation of the people asking for the remixes if they don`t even supply the parts

[duncandisorderly]

Ok, now, this is something that`s bugging me a bit. I had a lot of people asking to do remixes for DB records. Now the problem I have is that these days, records are full of remixes, and these remixes never bear even a slight resemblance to the original track they are taken from. For the most part they are just original tracks, with some tiny and obscure hint of the original.

My opinion is, if you are gonna do an original track, then do and original track, don`t try and hide it under the guise of a remix.

And if a remix is done, then how about actually remixing, you know, using some of the parts of the original in a recognisable, but intelligent way.

Any other opinions?

A good example of a prefectly executed remix for me would be, the Jark Prongo, and Laidback Luke remixes of salt and peppers "Push It", and the Hardfloor Remix of New Orders Blue Monday.

not too sure but gimme some of your bits and ill have a go at a PROPER remix... ;)

[Metadog]

personally i'd rather buy a remix that is very different to the original track - i cannot see the point of putting out a remix that is almost the same as the original - i thought the whole idea of remixing was to see the different take that a fresh artist brings to a similar starting point ...
as to sampling offa da record - obviously you are gonna get a finished remix further removed from the original than if the parts are supplied and it requires a bit more input from the remixer ... we are working on a remix of a track four years old right now and the parts just were not there for the remix so we have had to sample from vinyl

whatever anyway it's all good if you ask me - just some of it is not to my taste

;)

[davethedrummer]

i tried to do a remix once
but i forgot how to do it

so i went to the pub

;)

[dan the acid man]

i tried to do a remix once
but i forgot how to do it

so i went to the pub

;)

hahahaha :lol: :lol:

[Metadog]

forgetting how to do it would of course imply that you once actually knew how to do it henry ...

sorry but i can't believe you were ever party to that knowledge, mate

;)

[Esox Lucius]

surgeon mix of rue east - birmingham is an excellent remix of an already great track.

[mattboyslim]

for me remixes which appear on the same piece of vinyl should be very different to the original, so that u get a nice package for your cash.

its nice to hear remixes that compliment the original, i.e. keep alot of the main elements, but i'd prefer to hear these on seperate releases

[DJVirulent]

and often the big names who are paid for a remix often do bad work, they are not inspired and it's more a job than art...

Getting bigger names than yourself is always a crap shoot, especially if techno is what they do for a living....because for them, remixes are one of the easiest ways to put food on the table besides DJ gigs, and sometimes it's painfully obvious in what you get for your dollar.

A certain big name producer did this to someone I know. The mix he did is actually getting played by people due to his name, but IMHO it's not NEARLY as good as the original and not nearly as good a job as he is capable of. I reamed this producer out (who I consider a friend) for not doing his best work for these people, whom he also considers friends.

That said, I've been offered a chance to have a certain big name producer remix on one of my upcoming records. Despite the fact that he is someone I consider a friend, is a big fan and supporter of the stuff I put out on this particular label, and has offered to do the remix for 1/3rd of the price because of these things I'm somewhat apprehensive because of the above.