The Reborn Identity

Back once again with another one of these block-rocking boots roundups.

1. A Plus D - Stardust Kids [MP3]
2. Loo and Placido - Betty Got Jacked [Fairtilizer]
3. Fissunix - Everybody’s Stronger Than Me [MP3]
4. Mashup Industries - Café del Mash: Volume One [RAR]
5. Dan Mei - Beautiful Clowns (Too Late To Apologize) [MP3]
6. Divide & Kreate - Stereophlux [MP3]
7. M.I.A. - Boyz (DJ Topcat’s Slumdog Remix) [MediaFire]
8. Mash2Mix - The Way Oye Are [MP3]
9. MadMixMustang - Like A Life On  A Prayer [MP3]
10. Mighty Mike - Use The Same Old Song [MP3]

1. A Plus D - Stardust Kids [MP3]
- David Bowie - Lady Stardust
- MGMT - Kids
Given that MGMT’s vocals sit part way between Bowie and Bolan, matching up the electro duo’s Kids with a Ziggy stardust track that may be about Marc Bolan is just too perfect for words. The fact that the two elements weave so beautifully together makes it all the more special. This track is by far the best thing on the Ziggy Stardust Remixed album, but I would also recommend checking out the compilation for ToToM’s Hang on to the Highway (David Bowie vs Deep Purple). 

2. Loo and Placido - Betty Got Jacked [Fairtilizer]
 - Ram Jam vs Kanye West vs Pilotpriest vs HitHouse vs Herve vs Boys Noize vs C&C Music Factory vs Sefyu
Although I love the simplicity of an effective A+B mashup, the level of skill and ingenuity that goes into a track like Loo and Placido’s Betty Got Jacked is simply breathtaking. Far more than a mashup of Ram Jam’s Black Betty, C&C Music Factory’s Gonna Make You Sweat or Kanye’s Love Lockdown, this skates rings round each track to create something unique and amazingly polished.

3. Fissunix - Everybody’s Stronger Than Me [MP3]
- Amy Winehouse - Stronger Than Me
- Evanescence - Everybody’s Fool
The full force of vitriol and passion bubbling beneath Amy Winehouse’s vocals in Stronger Than Me is unleashed in this rocked out take on the soulful track. This is the sound of one peeved lady you wouldn’t want to mess with.

4. Mashup Industries - Café del Mash: Volume One [MP3]
- A 17-track chillout compilation
February has been a strong month for compilations, and for my money the best of the bunch is Mashup Industries’ Café del Mash - a 17-track compilation of chilled out mashups and remixes from some of the best producers around. My personal highlights include Phil RetroSpector’s Naturally Feeling Blue (Nina Simone vs Vera Hall vs Clint Mansell vs Johnny Cash), Norwegian Recycling’s Radioghost (Radiohead vs Howie day vs The Staple Singers) and Marc Johnce’s Don’t Be Miles Away (Madonna vs Tonka).   

5. Dan Mei - Beautiful Clowns (Too Late To Apologize) [MP3]
- Akon - Beautiful
- t.A.T.u. - Clowns
- OneRepublic - Apologize
It’s rare that I ever like an Akon mashup, and t.A.T.u are hardly my number one favourite band either, but Dan Mei has done a sterling job blending all the elements here into something truly engaging. Each element sounds perfectly at home - no mean feat with a track as heavily used as Apologize.

6. Divide & Kreate - Stereophlux [MP3]
- Bloc Party - Flux
- The Stereophonics - Dakota
Bloc Party’s Flux is a track that just keeps on giving. I’ve heard so many mashups using the track that every time I hear the original it sounds like a mashup of something else. There’s still mileage to be had from the track though, as this solid A+B from Divide & Kreate goes to show. It’s great to hear Dakota used again in a mashup too - despite being a number one single in the UK, it tends to be unduly ignored.  

7. M.I.A. - Boyz (DJ Topcat’s Slumdog Remix) [MediaFire]
The runaway success and non-stop accolades for Danny Boyle’s movie, Slumdog Millionaire, has rippled over to the music world with many mainstream artists seeking their own slice of its Indian cool. The Oscar-winning movie has made its mark on the bootleg world too, as this superb Slumdog-influenced remix from DJ Topcat takes the ethnically diverse music of M.I.A. on a trip to Mumbai.  

8. Mash2Mix - The Way Oye Are [MP3]
- Santana - Oye Como Va
- Timbaland ft Keri Hilson - The Way I Are
- Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
Timbaland’s The Way I Are has been flogged to death on the mashup scene - as has Bleeding Love, to be honest - but in slipping both vocals over the slinky latin guitars of Santana, Mash2Mix has created something that sounds both exotic and fresh.  

9. MadMixMustang - Like A Life On  A Prayer [MP3]
- Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer
- Nina Simone - Ain’t Got No, I Got Life (Groovefinder Remix)
- Madonna - Like A Prayer
This latest track from the mashup hit machine, MadMixMustang, transports Jon Bon Jovi far from the world of arena rock. With a Nina Simone backing and vocal accompaniment from Madonna’s gospel choir, Living on a Prayer takes on a very different, altogether more spiritual character. 

10. Mighty Mike - Use The Same Old Song [MP3]
- Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
- The Four Tops - It’s The Same Old Song
This month’s Motown quota is filled by this simple yet charming pairing from Mighty Mike. The Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody - one of my favourite tracks of the moment - is made all the more timeless with the aid of the Four Tops. 

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 1st, 2009 at 07:16 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.