Jesus Jones Instant Remix


The first new single in ages from Jesus Jones includes a complete kit for budding remixers - in fact for anybody - to reconstruct the 'A' side "Culture Vulture". The challenge is more than I can resist.

Among the records in my listening pile is an advance copy of the first new single in ages from Jesus Jones, called "Culture Vulture". My blind tasting verdict - not knowing who or what what it is - is that it's competent but stylistically perhaps rather dated in a style that we wouldn't normally play on 6 Music. But as I get past the A side and B sides, into tracks 4, 5, 6 and beyond it gets weirder. Single intsruments, acapella vocals... it turns out that JJ have thoughtfully provided a complete kit for budding remixers, in fact for anybody to reconstruct the 'A' side of their single. The challenge is more than I can resist and I spend odd hours over the Easter weekend loading the tracks into Apple's dirt-cheap and utterly brilliant music sequencer GarageBand on my computer. I've never done a remix of anything for anybody before, but it's clear from listening to the professionals that the first job is to straighten the beat out and remove all the chord changes. It's terriffic fun messing about with somebody else's song - nicely recorded vocals, loads of synth and guitar sound effects to sprinkle around, and a couple of cracking bass riffs to copy and play on synth to replace the fuzzy buzzsaw original. Drop on a couple of Apple's free GarageBand drum loops, apply the other golden rule of remixing - to omit about two thirds of the words - and the whole thing grooves like a bastard. I like it but what do I know. Decide to send a copy to the record company anyway. Thankyou Mike Edwards and Jesus Jones for your generosity and thoughtfulness in offering your fans this much fun for free.

Posted: Mon - April 12, 2004 at 12:18 am      

©