Remixed

Shpongle

Remixed

Twisted

The good news, folks, is that Shpongle are already working on their third album. And the good news, folks, is that Twisted are releasing a remix album to keep shpongle hunger nicely at bay. Western Rebel Alliance’s mix of Crystal Skulls opens the album in slinky breakbeat stylee, builds up nicely and sith wicked production that sort of throws in flecks of the original, like fudge pieces in posh ice cream. It’s cute and it’s refreshing that it doesn’t sound LOADS like Shpongle… though for me it ends a little abruptly. Eat Static go for sketch factor with a rework of And The Day Turned To Night, beats all over the place, firing off in all directions… yummy. Brothomstates’ Star Shpongled Banner is broken and twisted and metallic, like squarepusher going to samothraki and eating all his drugs because he’s scared of the police (ahem sketchy!). Prometheus’ New Way To Say Hooray is sublime, retaining the epic feel of the original while adding some bootyful benji bubbles. Tristan’s My Head Feels Like Frisbee brings two sides of Tristan in there somewhere, ultimately easygoing and mellow but with a sinister grumbleweed like a curry that you know’s going to have an effect on you sooner or later. The Total Eclipse mix of Dorset Perception we all know and love, sounds a little different here but maybe cos of different mastering that a serge rework? Dunno mate. What I do know is that Ott’s Around The World In A Tea Daze is f**ing submlime, seriously it’s up there with smoked glass and chrome for this boy… you just HAVE to hear it, the way the original melodies and samples float in and out around Ott’s fluid dubby groove is awesome. definitely one of those “re-re-rewind” moments, hearing it once isn’t enough. Esionjim’s final word, Blissful Awareness, takes you right out into a deep hammock of Shpongle, Michelle’s vocals have never sounded so good, mm-hmm, and there’s enough surprises and flecks to make it sound awesome even on the relatively lame little stereo i have in my motor.

This is better than I expected it to be, though some fullon dancefloor stuff wouldn’t have gone amiss. Shpongle’s music is special and the fact that it can be reinterpreted like this, and still work, just underlines that.

4/5