Peace Club Promo Review

Here is HOME’s review of the Club Promo CD (PCDBong41) for Depeche Mode’s next single Peace. While verities of remixers were chosen, were the right verity chosen?? Hmmm… more after the jump!

Here is my review of the promo mixes for Peace and I am sad to report that this might be the worst remix package to come from Mode that I can remember.

Peace – Hervé’s ‘Warehouse Frequencies’ Remix

Wow, I don’t even know where to start with this one. To be honest, I’m no fan of electro and I am actually holding back telling you all how much I hate it! That being said, the sound, while on the verge of being run into the ground, is massively popular. There are always elements of certain styles of electro that interest me, but this is just straight up grinding, gritty electro that is just not my thing and I doubt the common DM fan will have any interest in this mix. That being said, it’s done well and if they were looking for that sound in a remix it’s no wonder Hervé was sought out. He is very popular in this genre and does it very well. (Hey, trying to be somewhat positive here) This remix will be popular with all the electro/fidget blog raver types… that are massive at the moment. Again, I can see why they would want a remix like this, but at the same time it kills me that DM were remixed in such a trendy, throw away style. Solid beat, winding synth line, and a few vocals dropped in to make some kind of connection the original. This is one of those mixes that will make many a Depeche Mode fan scratch their head trying to figure out what is going on here. In an effort to try and keep my personal bias at a minimum, Hervé has produced some solid tracks that were a little more accessible, but this one is a peak hour, electro club banger that will have many a hipster kid in their tight jeans and sky top shoes banging their heads into the speaker stack. Forgettable at best. 1/10

Peace – Sander Van Doorn Remix

Congratulations Sander Van Doorn! You are in the running to be the most hated remix in Depeche Mode remix history! I’m not sure, but I think your remix will be hated as much or maybe worse then Underworld’s Hard Mix of “Barrel Of A Gun”. Time will tell, but I think you have a shot and I just wanted to congratulate you personally. Again, what is going on here? This mix is terrible, period. This is a total generic slab of progressive, borderline trance, music which has me banging my head against the desk. Ok, people love this stuff; I get that, but why remix a track like Peace this way? I get the thinking, club play, but come on. One of the great things about Peace is it’s nod to the analog, Kraftwerkish sounds of the past and they throw that all away with a crap mix like this??? I’m at a loss for words. While the mix is an absolute failure, I’m sure there is a mainstream club crowd out there that will eat up this punding, big synth wash, epic break filled remix, but the song is totally destroyed by it and I’m sorry for having heard it. 0/10

Peace – Justus Köhncke Extended Disco Club Vocal Remix

I have been a big fan of Justus Köhncke for a while and I was so thrilled to hear that he was remixing Peace! I’m psyched to tell you that his remix did not disappoint. In fact, Köhncke’s remix is the best of the bunch! If you get some time, go check out his album “Doppelleben” on Kompakt records. All his records are good, but this album is fantastic and not what you might think. He’s one of those artists that fits in on Kompakt, but not defined by his association with the label like some artist can be. He has moved Peace into more of a club mix, but it’s smooth, almost Nu Disco, groove and excellent use of the original parts make it a really good remix. It almost reminds me of a Richard X remix, but with more of a mellow techno vibe to it. This is the most accessible mix of Peace on this club promo and the only one that keeps true to the original. It’s has a great bounce to the beat, fun little sounds dropped in, and I think DM fans will really get into this one. 8/10

Peace – Pan/Tone Remix

Uh… an interesting mix from an interesting artist. I am a casual fan of Pan/Tone and am only familiar with some of his work, but you always get solid electronic music from him. Pan/Tone sound tends to lean more towards techno, but he definialy has some cool sounding moody, tech house tracks that are more my thing. When I saw he was remixing, I was expecting something totally different then the remix we got. It’s not that it’s bad, but it’s not good either. Very boring and repetitive really and I don’t think the effect he put on Dave’s voice really works to be honest. If you go listen to the album “Skip The Foreplay” on the Cereal/Killers label you’ll see what I mean. I would have much preferred he remix the song like “Broken English” or “Lost Highway”, but it is what it is. It’s a little darker, but not too cold. Sadly, I just kind of zone out when I listen to it. To be fair, it might be that I was hoping for more, but it’s just doesn’t do much for me. Solid, but not anything amazing. 4/10

Peace – Sid LeRock Remix

While having heard the name, I’m not too familiar with Sid LeRock and after looking him up, I found myself somewhat interested in his music. He definitely makes some interesting electronic music, but not anything that other people aren’t doing just as well. If they wanted this sound, why not get Matthew Dear? While I’m not a big fan of his remix, I am warming up to it a little. It has a little tech house vibe to it, kind of a tech funk sound that I find interesting. Combine that with good use of the original parts and I’m listening, but the effect used on Dave’s voice made it sound like he was in a tunnel and I’m not really feeling that. While a pretty big departure from the original, I think there is a certain vibe that I could see some DM fans relating to on this one while others will find it forgettable. Fair enough mix, but nothing to get excited about. 4/10

Peace – The Exploding Plastic Inevitable JK Disco Dub

Ah yes, the dub version of Justus Köhncke’s remix. Very similar to his vocal mix, but he does add some nice touches to the dub that makes it a fun listen. Little vocal drops sprinkled through with some warm synths added that makes this a solid dub mix. Having the vocals left out, you can catch some of the little subtle nuances placed though out the whole mix. Again, I couldn’t be more please that Justus Köhncke remixed DM and I love what he came up with. 8/10

Peace – Japanese Popstars Remix

Sigh! What a mess of a mix and I am, again, extremely disappointed that DM were remixed like this. Sounds like the same soulless electro that Hervé did on his remix. It’s just pointless to even go into it any more then that. Ok, in an effort to be positive I will concede to the fact that there is room for all genres in dance and electronic music… I just find this style flat and boring and I just don’t get its mainstream acceptance myself. Sure there is an adrenalin rush where you hear it blasting at a club, but it has no heart, no soul, and it’s that emptiness that bothers me. I’m just not sure I get why they remixed, I’m really confused by this one. While vocals are dropped in and cut up through out it, I think this one of those mixes that only their fans will like instead of the artist being remixed and I have a big problem with that. 0/10

(By the way, it was pointed out to me that Sheldon Thompson is the man behind both Pan/Tone and Sid LeRock. I wasn’t aware of it at the time I wrote this review, but I thought that was interesting. Thanks to imol for the info!)