By Mita Tate
The booklet for Depeche Mode’s Remixes 81-04 tells why the seminal new wave group’s music serves as the perfect template for a remix. This is essentially true as Martin Gore’s dark compositions and David Gahan’s strained vocals seem to reach new heights when in the hands of a stranger-or in this case, a group of famed DJs.
Francois Kevorkian’s “Pump Mix”of the number one single “Personal Jesus” from 1989, ends up sounding more like Depeche Mode than the original, which featured a very memorable signature country riff. On this mix, the Western feel has been replaced by nocturnal EBM beats.
“I Feel You” was recorded during a rather dark time in Depeche Mode’s career. Gahan was a full-fledged suicidal heroin addict and the band was on the verge of breaking up. “I Feel You” was a song that exemplified all that was going on with the band during these times with its dreary undertones. However, on the Renegade Soundwave remix of “I Feel You,” this is replaced by mid-1990s IDM and a throbbing drum ‘n’ bass beat that never lets up throughout its 10 minute playing time.
The Beatmasters mix of “Route 66” is perhaps the best re-interpretation found on Remixes 81-04. It not only is a complete over-haul of the hit cover song with samples from the original version, but at one point uses the main synth-lines from another Depeche Mode classic, “Behind The Wheel,” off of 1987’s Music For The Masses. It is very subtle, but a nice touch nonetheless.
Other standout tracks include a pop noir take on “Halo” by Tricky-backup singer turned electro goddess Goldfrapp and the serene, Casio-tinged “Around The Golf Remix” of “Home” done by none other than electronic pop group Air. There are only two disappointments on Remixes 81-04-one is the 1994 “Jeep Rock Mix” of “In Your Room,” done by Trip-hop forerunners Portishead with Johnny Dollar. It’s not a bad song by any means; it’s just not very interesting when you take into consideration what could have been done by this phenomenal group.
The last track, a “Reinterpreted” version of “Enjoy The Silence,” by Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, is just terrible. Shinoda managed to ruin possibly the best Depeche Mode song of all time with downtuned nu-metal guitars.
While Remixes 81-04 is a nice addition to any Depeche Mode fan’s collection and features fresh takes on many fan favorites, it does not substitute for a new album filled with original material.
