Mixed & Mashed 22: White Labelled

I wasn't always such a remix fiend, but in the last year or so, I've become addicted to the endless musical variations offered by remix culture. Sure, most of the remixes I listen to follow a pretty predictable template of merely translating a song for club friendliness, but with time and a tireless eye, it's not too difficult to find amazing remakes of all your favorite tracks. Alongside the usual host of commissioned remixes are a handful of unofficial takes, done by everyone from your local DJ to the biggest names in the industry. Ending up online, on white label promos or confined to a small listening circle, the best of them can often surpass the commercially-available remixes most commonly heard in clubs. After much collecting, it's time for me to look back and round up some of my favorites.

For the first installment (part two is imminent), I've started out with two recent white label mixes. The first is a booming club rework of Madonna's dance standard "Into The Groove," which, although taking a bit of a safe remix angle, is a worthwhile cheap thrill. Next up is a promo-only track intended for full single release in the near future, a rework/mash-up of Natasha Bedingfield's "I Bruise Easily" with Chicane's "Saltwater." Crookers are notorious for their bass-heavy underground mixes of popular tracks, and their juicy stripdown of Nelly Furtado's "Maneater" is no exception. Inner City's old school "Big Fun" gets an extended and groovy, if unremarkable, mix by Simian Mobile Disco. Aphex Twin's "Windowlicker" was perfect in its own right as a filthy dance track, but the "Run Jeremy" mixes by Tocadisco are nice variations. To wrap up the first half, A-Trak have cut up Kanye West's already robotic "Stronger" for a crucial remake.

Video: Chicane Vs. Natasha Bedingfield, "Bruised Water"


Downloads:
Madonna, "Into The Groove" (Sidechains Remix) [YSI]
Chicane Vs. Natasha Bedingfield, "Bruised Water" (Original Radio Edit)
Nelly Furtado, "Maneater" (Crookers Remix) [YSI]
Inner City, "Big Fun" (Simian Mobile Disco Remix) [YSI]
Aphex Twin Vs. Tocadisco, "Windowlicker" (Run Jeremy's XXX Lick Mix) [YSI]
Kanye West, "Stronger" (A-Trak Remix) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

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