Bloc Party - Silent Alarm Remixed

At first glance, Bloc Party's music seems ideal for the remix treatment, being so unrelentingly rhythmic. But on the other hand, what do you do with something that's already got that pumping, though admittedly guitar based, dance energy? From Ladytron's take on "Like Eating Glass", it sounds like you would just futz around with it for its own sake. This trance-ified mix has a lot less power, and Kele's voice is shut in a box. An interesting but inessential experiment from the "because we can" school of remixing.

Mostly there's few surprises and no risk-taking. These pieces are slightly and subtly dance-ified, adorned with blips and twitches here and there, while staying in the spirit of the originals. The intro suggested "Helicopter" was going to be turned into a kind of lazy stoned reggae. But this (mildly disappointingly!) gives way to a mix which just cuts and pastes bits of the original, ending up with something largely similar. "Positive Tension" is peppered with extra beats and bass, and it's all head to the floor for the pumping intensity of "She´s Hearing Voices".

The prize for most distinctive re-interpretation goes to M83 for "Pioneers" which is puffed up into a shimmering Jean-Michel Jarre style synth kaleidoscope. The keyboard noodles on "Price of Gas" are too gratuitous. The splurges of drums on "Luno" and the gothed-up whispers of "Compliments" make for spicy and energetic music. But overall the remixes are too conservative and essential only for fans. Just make sure you get the version (available on EMusic.com) with the "Compliments" remix and the extra untitled track, actually a new song.

October 30, 2005

6 out of 10

Available to download from eMusic

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