The Reborn Identity

Wow, what a month. With the summer more or less over, it seems many producers are heading back into the studio full of fresh ideas. The range and diversity of top-class mashups has made choosing this month’s top 10 really difficult but finally, here’s my pick of the mashups and albums that have most impressed me this September.

1. Phil RetroSpector - Introversion (album) [ZIP]
2. Dunproofin’ - Pjanoo Dance [MP3]
3. Flying White Dots - When Smokey Sings Again [MP3]
4. Aggro1 - Smells Like Teen Spirit v Amalgam [Fairtilizer]
5. Oki - Up in the Cotton Club [Fairtilizer]
6. Michmash - Ne Le Dis à Personne [MP3]
7. Voicedude - Strange Diggity [Fairtilizer]
8. DJ Schmolli - Complicated Sex on Fire [MP3]
9. DJ Morgoth - Du Hast Mich Again [MP3]
10. Colorebel - If This Girl Were Mine [DivShare]

1. Phil RetroSpector - Introversion (album) [ZIP]
- 16-track mashup compilation
Self-confessed melancholic, Phil RetroSpector, has conjured up some of the most touching and heartfelt mashups over the past few years. Phil’s tracks often have a strong cinematic feel to them, which is even more prominent in this 16-track compilation. Bringing together some of his very best tracks alongside two all-new mashups, Introversion is a moving soundtrack and a masterpiece of the art-house side of the mashup scene.

2. Dunproofin’ - Pjanoo Dance [MP3]
- David Bowie - Let’s Dance
- Eric Prydz - Pjanoo
Pjanoo Dance brings Bowie’s 80s classic bang up to date with a fresh dancefloor feel and killer chorus. With its impeccable production and infectious danceability, this is one mashup that just screams out for a commercial release.

3. Flying White Dots - When Smokey Sings Again[MP3]
- From the FWD album CMYK
It’s back to more reflective territory again with this standout track from the latest Flying White Dots album, CMYK. While much of the album has a strong psychedelic vibe to it, it’s this chilled out take on Smokey Robinson’s Being With You that really pricked up my ears. Delicately multi-layered and softer than a winter duvet, it’s a perfect autumn snuggler.

4. Aggro1 - Smells Like Teen Spirit v Amalgam [Fairtilizer]
- Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
- Engage - Amalgam
Anything but soft and gentle, Aggro1’s take on Smells Like Teen Spirit makes the song even harder and more frenzied with the help of Russian drum and bass act, Engage.

5. Oki - Up in the Cotton Club [Fairtilizer]
- Duke Ellington - Harlem Airshaft
- Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Jazz is a genre that rarely gets touched on in mashups, but this inspired pairing by Oki shows just how well a modern pop track can work when fused with some classic jazz. Rather than bring Duke Ellington up to date, Up in the Cotton Club sends Beyoncé spinning back in time to great effect.

6. Michmash - Ne Le Dis à Personne [MP3]
- Mathieu Chedid - b.s.o “Ne le dis à Personne”
- Gladys Knight - Neither One of Us
It’s back to cinematic territory again with this film noir-esque track from Michmash.  Against Mathieu Chedid’s soundtrack to Ne le dis à Personne (Tell No One), Gladys Knight’s vocals are given deeper longing and vulnerability.

7. Voicedude - Strange Diggity [Fairtilizer]
- Reba McEntire - Strange
- Blackstreet - No Diggity
Country music is scarcely better represented on the mashup scene than jazz, but there are a few decent tracks out there. The latest to add to that list is this surprisingly seamless number from Voicedude, which adds a country vibe to Blackstreet’s swagger.

8. DJ Schmolli - Complicated Sex on Fire [MP3]
- Avril Lavigne - Complicated
- Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
There’s not much pop in this month’s countdown, so let remedy that with this sweet little hook-up from Austria’s finest, DJ Schmolli. It’s sure to set many Kings of Leon fans’ teeth on edge, but the ubiquitous Sex on Fire works very smoothly with Avril Lavigne’s brand of pop rock.

9. DJ Morgoth - Du Hast Mich Again [MP3]
- Rammstein - Du Hast Mich
- Chemical Brothers - Do It Again
Everyone loves a bit of Rammstein don’t they? OK, maybe not the conservatives out there, given their latest video. You don’t need to be a Rammstein fan to love DJ Morgoth’s mash of Du Hast Mich though, which takes the raw vocals of Till Lindemann and simmers them with the Chemical Brothers for a sweet slice of electro action.

10. Colorebel - If This Girl Were Mine [DivShare]
- NeYo - Go On Girl
- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - If This World Were Mine
To finish up this month comes this sweet little palette cleanser from Colorebel. If This World Were Mine is one of the lesser known fruits of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s musical partnership, but surely one of the best - especially with the gentle up-to-date backing from Ne-Yo.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 05:03 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.