ThisWayIn

La Remixes

By Mandu

La Roux is somewhat of a phenomenon both on and off the web. For a start she's PC Ackland's daughter. She's openly admitted being androgynous and to top it she's got sugar-coated pop hits emerging from most orifices of her person. And also, she is the daughter (son?) of PC Ackland. 

 

She's an outright popstar - the image, mystery, attitude, the name - all nicely juxtaposed with some of the cheesiest/best electro-pop tunes to emerge from the UK since the Pet Shop Boys quit coke. The blogs fell in love with her early, and much like a horse to water, a dog to a bone or a bedroom DJ to a Crookers bootleg, the Ableton equipped masses came to do their worst.

 

There's a few out there, so here's a little rundown on the good, the bad, and the blogly array of remodes, melds, blends, refixes and renditions that soundtracked winter '09.

 

In For The Kill 

 

Lifelike Remix

First appearing on Kitsune Maison 7, this warm, subdued French-touch jam got in nice and early. There was a time, around when Lifelike's monster jam 'So Electric' first said 'fuck you, i'm french', that this man from Paris could do little to no wrong. His tunes just made you feel so damn light and tangy. But this wasn't his best work, it didn't reach the emotional heights some had grown accustomed to, it just kinda plowed through the original vocal take. Still, worth digging up for 'cool 21st' birthdays or 'open deck nights' when you need a mad jam that's not going to make you look twattish if no-one's on the dance floor.

 

Skream Remix

"Shit son. You heard this new 'dubbed stomp' stuff from the UK?? Sheeeet. I'm a musical conduit for my peer group you know. All about discovering new and wild genres bro. Gonna spin this down my mate Kosta's bar on the weekend and LOL at everyone's confused faces".

 

.....no but seriously this was and still is the effing JAM. 

 

Honorable mentions go to 

The Twelves Remix

 

Dishonorable mentions go to

Sticky K Remix ft Busy Signal - sounds like crispy farts of annoyance in my ear. Sticky K should have retired after the Bandari Funk EP.

 

Quicksand

 

Chateau Marmont Remix

These Parisian based dudes have been making alot of noise, with a refreshing, disco oriented take on french-electro. This jam first appeared on the French release of the Quicksand EP, alongside some other smooth rerubs from Beni and Autokratz. It's a bit gentler, some nice space-gazing pads sweep throughout. The sharp, almost dischordant vocals on this tunes seem to respond better to a lighter touch.  

 

Honorable mentions

Alex Metric Remix

Mad Decent Remix  

 

Dishonorable mentions go to

Joe and Will Ask? - Big room electro that aims a bit too big and falls a bit too flat. Not bad, just forgettable. This is an unnecessary question mark? 

 

I'm Not Your Toy

 

Jack Beats Remix

The ringleader of London's Jack Union records, perhaps one of the last remaining temples of straight out fidget-house, delivers a right techno banger here mate. With all the dings and dongs and a big drop that says 'HIYOOOO' i'm a TECHNO B@NGOR!  But seriously though, it's good. Moody as f**k and straight out evil in places. Definitely not a toy. 

 

Honorable mentions go to:

Yes Giantess (cover)

Nero Remix

 

Dishonorable mentions:

Speedy Graffiti Rave Your Face Off Remix - doomed to be rubbish the day this bro bought Skitz Mix 43 in high-school

 

La Roux will be onboard the 2010 BACARDI EXPRESS. Check out www.bacardiexpress.com.au for more details.