drwex | If I do not music I shall go mad (turn it up edition) (Reply)

The joy of having the last meeting of the day canceled is that I can try to close out a few more music tabs and share with you the most ROCKING mix to hit my headphones in a while.

http://viprhealthcare.typepad.com/files/linkin-park-vs.-carl-orff---the-catalyst-vs.-carmina-burana-djs-from-mars-remix.mp3
Rather than make you wait I'm just going to start off with the best and hope you aren't disappointed. So, go load that up, listen and if it doesn't move you then I do not know what to say. DJs from Mars remain my new heroes as this mix does things that should be impossible and gods does it rock.

First of all, Carmina Burana is overdone. You'll find classicists who hate it - it's bombastic and it mixes (dare I say mashes up) orchestral and choral styles in ways that set some people's teeth on edge. It has also been used by rockers from Ray Manzarek to lesser lights. But the way it's blended here with Linkin Park's "The Caralyst" turns bombast to thunder. Really, guys, play this one VERY loud.

http://www.mashup-industries.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=334&Itemid=27
Also in the realm of things designed to be played loud is Clivester's latest "Hello DJ." It's a heavy thump house mix of Martin Solveig's "Hello" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Na85fPGYCM) with Alphabeat's "DJ (I Could Be Dancing)". Solveig is a French DJ and the tune is pop-dance style; Alphabeat contributes more dance and disco stylings. Clivester plays up the scratch, speeds things up a bit, but mostly lets the underlying tracks carry things.

http://audioporncentral.com/2010/10/wax-audio-maiden-goes-to-bollywood.html
I'm certain I blogged "Maiden Goes to Bollywood" before, and my memory says that I couldn't identify the Bollywood bit before. Well, now Wax Audio has given us a video mash-up to go with the MP3 track, and I've pinpointed the Bollywood source. I feel so much better now. Oh, you want to see it? It's "Crazy kia re" from the flick Dhoom 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0smZGU2VxA). That's nice (especially the eye-candy) but I prefer the mash-up to the original song.

http://www.metrolyrics.com/caged-bird-video-unkle.html
UNKLE sounded familiar to me - they've been around for 15+ years - but I had to go look it up to remember that DJ Shadow used to be with them. This track, "Caged Bird", features Katrina Ford, who is somewhat known for doing cabaret-style rock. I can hear the influences, but they're buried in what I'd call a pretty classic eerie trip-hop style. Ford's voice is lovely, though I can't tell whether the backing is her, redubbed, or another singer.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Groove_Armada/track/History_feat_Will_Young_Still_Going_Remix_
This is not your typical Groove Armada; in my mind the duo is always associated with some heavy funk influences and the three tracks here are mostly funk-free, but still excellent. The first one is a high-BPM dance number, but it then segues into a moodier, more down-tempo backing track that features the throaty and wistful vocals of Bryan Ferry. The final remix is straight-up riddim house number, which I reviewed back in January. "Crank it op!" yeah.

All three tracks are from Groove Armada's upcoming release of remixes, and this bodes extremely well.