John/Lilian Remixes Reviewed

We’ve laid our hands on a pre-release copy of the John The Revelator and Lilian remixes, and here’s our review of the mixes.

John The Revelator – UNKLE Re-Construction Mix

Hands down the best mix of all the remixes for John The Revelator. This might be in the running for best remix from all the mixes made for songs off of Playing The Angel. It’s just that good! I knew coming in that UNKLE would make a fantastic mix, but this is way better then I could have ever imagined. This is one mix the fans will love. I just don’t see how anyone could not like this one. The use of the original parts, the guitar especially, is flawless. The added production is just as fantastic. My one minor concern with this one is how lost would the song be in the UNKLE sound? Well, it’s a perfect blend and nothing is lost. I would go so far as to say that UNKLE should be on the short list of people to keep in mind to produce them next time. My only complaint is that it’s to short in length; it could have been longer really. Good driving beat with lots off added percussion and synths added in. Cool funky guitar riffs with syths sounds water falling behind them give the mix something so unique. I just can’t put in to words how good this mix is people. Get excited!!

John The Revelator – Tiefschwarz Dub

As a big fan of Tiefschwarz, I was really looking forward to see what they could do remixing Depeche Mode. Some of you may have heard their remixes for Goldfrapp, Alter Ego, Missy Elliot or their own music while their name might be new to others. This first of two mixes is a solid dub mix. The remix has that typical progressive, tech house sound that we have grown to love them for. Lots of bouncy synths give this mix an electro feel while the beat gives it this dark, chunky vibe. There are some samples from the original track, but not many. There are also these cool swirling synth sounds that spin in and out of the mix that give it some unique layers. While this Dub is good, it’s pretty forgettable at the same time. It’s just a Dub I know, but only a Depeche Mode fan would catch the “John The Revelator” samples if they heard it in a club.

John The Revelator – Tiefschwarz “Dave Is In The Disco” Remix

The second mix is a lot better! This mix has that same progressive sound as the dub mix, but the vocals make the mix so much better! This one has a really cool intro with the vocals looped that leads in to a strong, deep grooving beat. Besides the vocals, there are a lot of the original parts used all through the mix. I think if they had used more of those parts in the dub, it would have been an even stronger dub mix. They did add some cool new synth sounds that gives this mix a new dynamic compared to the dub. It’s a bit repetitive in parts, but still works. I’m not as in love with these remixes like I thought I would be, but still very solid and fun mixes from Tiefschwarz.

John The Revelator – Murk Miami Mix

Miami house legend Murk waste no time on this mix. Murk might be a new name to some of you, but the Murk sound has been legendary in clubs for the last 15+ years. In the early 90’s I would buy anything Murk related. If the label said their name or they remixed, I bought it! I just knew the quality was going to be there with them involved. The have drifted for me the last few years, but came through with my personal favorite of the club promo mixes! They’re name is still synonymous with quality and that is why they have recently remixed for the likes of Royksopp, Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Brittany Spears, Jennifer Lopez and a whole lot more.

This first of three Murk mixes is amazing. Some will trivialize it as boring club fodder, but it’s a perfect club mix. The mix comes out pumping with a hard, stomping beat that sets the tone for the mix. They cut up and looped the vocals in the beginning of the mix that leads into an amazing break with Martin’s guitar playing under the vocals and these huge synth washes just crashing over the top. The break builds up and this hard funky tribal beat kicks in and takes over!! There are piercing synths that come shooting in while there are screeching synths bouncing all over the place. This mix has lots of breaks that build you up and drop you right back down. It has a solid groove all the way through and Murk really takes you on a journey with this one. While this mix is a big departure from the original, it has a lot of the original parts in it and you know its “John The Revelator” for sure!

John The Revelator – Murk Mode Dub

While the Miami mix is a driving tribal mix, this mix has more of a funky bounce to it. It even has congas in it to give it some flavor. Don’t let that scare you off though; they don’t over power the mix, they just add to the groove of it. This time they used some really crunchy sounding synths mixed in with lots of parts from the original version. The sound of this mix is a lot deeper as well. There are all these cool, cut up synths that shoot in and out adding all these layers to the mix. This again is a dub, so not a whole lot going on vocal wise. It has a consistent feel to it and a smooth, funky groove.

John The Revelator – Murk Mode Mix

This mix is very similar to the Murk Mode Dub, but with all the vocals in it. It’s a fun mix that is the closes to the original of all the mixes on the club promo. While this mix will work great for a club, it’s also a good mix for home as well. They used some cool effects on the vocals that give it a unique twist. I think of the three remixes that Murk made, this is the one the fans will like the most. Not only is it fun, it’s interesting as well.

John The Revelator – Boosta Extended Club Mix

I don’t know a lot about Boosta other then I believe it’s the same Boosta that remixed Client’s “Radio” a while back. Anyway, Boosta came through with a really good remix. The mix comes right in with a driving techno beat with a great bass line layered over the top. The mix also has a lot of edgy synths giving the song a really dark feel to it. While the mix blends elements of funky electro and grooving tech house, it still remains dark. There are these fun synth riffs that get dropped in and have an eighties vibe to it, but they don’t seem dated or retro either. Add some swirling synths and vocals on top and you have a mix that will get you moving. Big departure from the original, but enough of the original sampled in to have a good time with it as well.

Lilian – Chab Vocal Remix

This is a fantastic mix of Lilian! It’s a very progressive tech house mix that has a dark vibe to it. It’s dark, but has these repeating, overlapping synths that give the mix a lot of color and range. It’s beat is driving and funky, but it’s the synths that take over on this one. There are these epic sounding synths that glide over the beat, but they don’t over power the vocals. They are as big as the vocals and the two parts come together to paint this amazing sonic landscape. The vocals sound great and are not wasted at all. While Chab used plenty of sounds from the original song, this is all their sound and vibe on this one. This might be up there with the best of the Lillian mixes in my book. Considering the Lillian mixes were not what I was expecting, this might be the fan favorite if I were to guess. Very solid remix!

Lilian – Chab Dub

Very similar to the vocal mix in a lot of ways, but has it’s own flair to it. Some added percussion and sounds give this mix it’s own vibe compared to the other mix. Like the vocal mix, this one has a good bounce to the over all sound and that shows through more on this one. The synths aren’t as powerful, so the mix drives you from the beat a little more. There are lots of big synth washes and sounds coming at you from all over. The mix has some vocals dropped in at parts, but doesn’t use as many samples from the original version like the vocal mix has. While the vocals are missed, it’s still a solid dub in my book.

Lilian – Pantha Du Prince Raboisen Ecke Burstah Remix

This mix of Lillian is a really good driving, deep micro house style mix built around a great bass line. This mix has these grinding and gritty layers that seem off in the distance and just fill in the layers of the mix while the bass line and beat drive the beat forward. There are all these ambient sounding synth sounds that are layered through the gritty layers that give the mix a second dimension of sound. The vocals are used in an interesting way. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like they fit very well, but still used in an interesting way. It’s something you would have to hear to get what I’m talking about. It reminds me a lot of James Holden’s take on “The Darkest Star” in a lot of ways, but not quite as progressive. The parts used from the original are used in a way to give the mix some structure, but it is a lot different then the pop song on Playing The Angel.

Lilian – Pantha Du Prince Neues Holz Remix

This one starts off in a really odd and indifferent direction you would think Lillian would be remixed. It has these dark and creepy sounds with some of Martin’s guitar playing, not sure how else to describe it other then dark and different. Then the beat kicks in and the mix gets groovin’ and becomes more of a bright, tech house mix compared to the Raboisen Ecke Burstah remix. This one is more of a dub mix and just drops the vocals in here and there. The parts from the original were used in an odd way that actually gives the mix some depth. The use of the guitar and dark synths on top of the more minimal parts of the mix give it a real lush sound. Like all the Lilian remixes, this mix is a real departure from the original.

Lilian – Robag Wruhme Kr