Duran Duran did it back in 1998 with Night Versions. Soulwax did the same in 2005 with their own Nite Versions. It is 2009 and Van She have ‘reworked’ their debut album, V, into Ze Vemixes.
‘Reworked’ is the word because Ze Vemixes doesn’t sound like the Van She Tech remixes that went out with CD singles / EPs released last year. This is a good thing.
The medical profession has for centuries been governed by the principle to first do no harm and the same should arguably apply to electronic music. If your remix isn’t an improvement or at least a tangent towards something interesting, then first do no harm to the original song.
Listening to the ‘vemixes’ of “Strangers”, “Cat & The Eye” and “Sexual City”, they don’t improve on the originals. If anything, Van She Tech have probably made them slightly worse.
Hopefully this will change once I listen to the album proper, but on the basis of the tracks I’ve heard I’d say that Van She have failed to pull off what Soulwax and Duran Duran before them pulled off so very successfully: a glorious reimagining of an original album.
Pre-order Ze Vemixes here before it hits stores from 12 June.
Van She will be touring the album through many of Australia’s major centres from 19 June with a changing blend of AJAX, Knightlife, Ted & Francis, G.L.O.V.E.S., Bag Raiders, and Dangerous Dan among others confirmed as support.
Afterthoughts
: when did an original track + remixes of the same song = an EP?
: didn’t “Sexual City” use to be “Sex City”?
- Jake
10 Comments
That said, it’s a pretty rad lineup for a show.
“Van She will be bringing Ze Vemixes to the stage, in a re-imagined, technologically slamming new live show”
Long story, short : it will be amazing
yesssssssssssssssss
the “Stranger” remix is incredible… i can’t wait for these “Vemixes”…
Actually, I think Duran Duran’s “Night Versions” were all technically released between 1981 and 1984..?
And I’d maybe throw The Human League’s dub version of “Dare” – “Love And Dancing” – from ’81 in the album re-interpretation category, as well..
I’ve been pretty disillusioned by Van She recently but I’m going to the Melbourne show. Great lineup and I want to hear how they’re reinterpreting these tracks with a more electric bent.
Plus Mike D rocks.
please, download this: http://www.mediafire.com/?tmdchiahqwo
I’m relying on you for the vicarious experience of being there, Ned
That’s pretty much the ugliest cover art ever. And the name is terrible too.
I admit that the cover art is bloody atrocious, but I do like the vemixes within the horror casing.