Remixed Hearts
Nina, Ricky Wilde and the remixers
I reviewed Scala Hearts a couple of weeks ago. It’s remained a fairly regular listen when the mood takes me. What mood is that Dave? Well, it’s when I want some retro 8o’s sounding electronica with more than a hint of Europop holiday club nights in Tenerife 1987 mixed with the essence of Cinderella’s in Guildford 1984 and the merest dusting of a 70’s disco injected straight into my veins to get the dopamine flowing and escape reality if just for a few moments.
I love some post punk introspection and self pity but here I found Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer, Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, Propoganda and Madonna if Madonna was in Bucks Fizz. Let me tell you it even got my arthritic bones moving, in my own time granted but moving none the less.
One of the things that got me listening in the first place was seeing a Tweet from Ricky asking for fans to remix the Roxette sounding track Causeway. So here we are with the now 19 track Remixed Hearts and I’m trying to work out how to remix a review. So rather than do the whole album I’ll pick out a few of my favourites where the influences I heard have been remixed in my head.
So let’s start with Causeway which has 5 versions The TLF remix is one I don’t really feel qualified to comment on because I think it has a modern Ibiza / club feel but I stand to be corrected. It’s still beautiful. Rayne Reznor instantly puts in mind of Billy MacKenzie’s 3 Gypsys In a Restaurant from his posthumous Satellite Life collection. This is a very, very good thing as Billy is my musical hero. Bearly Disco have produced something that Kylie could have done with Stock Aitken and Waterman which is absolutely meant as a compliment. The Chrisarama remix is completely stripped back with some exceptional harmonies. Finally the ethereal remix by Radio Wolf is a hauntingly atmospheric version that made me wonder if they cleverly sampled the intro to Kids In America? Essentially all 5 versions make the original version sound different in their own positive ways. This 58 year old is learning some stuff here….
Ricky’s Living In Sin remix retains it’s Depeche Mode vocal feel but with a heavier dance element. Did Dave Gahan ever do Hi-Nrg?
Probably my favourite track from the original Lovers On A Beach has been given the full extended remix version retaining that driving I Feel Love beat this is what i’d want on my 80’s 12” remix the same song ramped up to 100. Brilliant.
The Videotheque remix by Project K removes it another 1000 miles away from the Dollar original by throwing the remix kitchen sink at it.
Fighter was a song that passed me by a little bit on the original. I had to check what I wrote about it..
“Fighter treads a fine line between a Celine Dion epic and a No Doubt anthem. It clearly comes from a very personal place for Nina as she absolutely throws herself into it.”
This PYN remix elevates it to something incredible. Gone are any signs of Celine or Gwen and we have a Nina song. No comparisons or influences needed. Her vocal is exquisite and the delicate touch of the backing track allows it to soar. I love the string sound over the hypnotic electronic beat. This is a powerful personal song given the room and space to become quite magnificent. Well done everyone…
The whole thing is great. Sorry I didn’t get to every song but I’m conscious I don’t want to bore so I’ll shut up so you can get on with listening to this terrific album which was not on my 2024 bingo card but it has been an absolute game changer. Who knew this is what I was looking for to offset the gloom that pervades in the real world. I’m off to delve into more Synthwave and Retrowave excited for what else I’ll find. Now where did I put those lace gloves?