Customer Reviews

Eccentrix Remixes

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This timely release should really have been called Yello 1986-1998 The Second Mix in One Go. With only 11 tracks it is considerably less substantial than its predecessor - but make no mistake - Yello Eccentrix Remixes is a top album and belongs in every CD collection.

The album is a compilation of old and new material and consists of 2 previously unreleased mixes of the hits The Race [Flag] and More [Pocket Universe] by Boris Blank, a previously unreleased track, Topaz, as well as 8 `hard to get hold of' remixes of slightly older Yello material by Boris Blank, Fluke, Plutone, Mark Picchiotti, Teri Bristol, Doug Laurent, Olaf Wollschlager and Ian Pooley.

Boris Blank's remixes are a rare treat, and for those connoisseurs out there who feel that Yello started loosing the touch after Baby (1991) the `Break Light Mix' of The Race sees Boris back in his best 1980s years. This mix is on par with the original full length version, released 1988, as well as Derek May's legendary `The Pits Mix' of the same year. The `Rockabilly Mix' of More and the new track Topaz continue the deeper techno sound of Pocket Universe and should absolutely not be missed. Fluke's version of How How [Zebra] sounds as radical today as when it was first released in 1994. This unmistakable Fluke retouch transforms the rather mediocre original How How to new rhythmic heights (compare this version of How How with Fluke's Atomix 5 of Atom Bomb, 1996 - the beat is almost uncomfortably similar).

Other highlights are Doug Laurent's romantic journey mix of On Track [Pocket Universe] and the serene To the Sea [Pocket Universe] with Stina Nordenstam on the vocals. If you have ever wondered what a house version of Vicious Games [Stella] would sound like, try the Blank/Wollschlager mix. This version is a definite improvement to The Grid's two ambient `Hands on' remixes, but the new vocals by Diana Boge are a far cry from the chilling voice of Rush Winters.

My only real reservation concerns the choice of including Plutone's `In Silence Mix' of How How from The Plutone Mixes (1994) which is superfluous and comes across as the weakest track - especially in comparison with the Fluke remix. I always felt Plutone made a better job at capturing the Yello sound with the Drummer's and Saxophone versions. Instead of this track I would have preferred a new Boris Blank remix of a classic like Tremendous Pain (Suite 904), Blender, Dr Van Steiner, Tied Up, Domingo or the like.

Unfortunately this is not a US release and the album is only available on special import which takes a few weeks - but it is well worth the extra wait. For those of you who wish to cover the very best of Yello or just indulge in an excellent techno/electronic album I strongly recommend Yello Eccentrix Remixes.

// J. Silvennoinen

In case anyone is curious, I recently found out how remixes of songs are made: the record label sends a tape, usually of vocal tracks, to the DJ, who then creates entirely new rhythm and instrument tracks. For my fello Yello conniseurs and I, this CD is a great chance to hear some rare extended mixes of recent Yello songs, some of which were made by Boris Blank, the composer himself.

The Brake Light Mix of "The Race" sounds a lot more like NASCAR action than the version heard in "Nuns on the Run" in 1988. There are two versions of "How How" here: one by Plutone that turns a short little jazzy number into a deeply meditative mood, and one by Fluke that has to be heard to be believed. The sensuality of "Do It" is made much more apparent by the Marky P. & Teri B. Dub, as is the Blank/Wollschlager mix of "Vicious Games" whispered breathily by another female singer (not Rush Winters, I don't think. There's a lot more, but the last one I'll mention is an extended recording of "Rubberband Man" you won't find anywhere else but here! I highly recommend Eccentrix Remixes to all Yello fans!

I've never understood why so many people seem compelled to take Yello's work, which is already tight and precise and, well, perfect, why would someone want to try to make it better? Inevitably they fail, and all we are left with is a dumbed-down version of really excellent music.

When Boris Blank remixes his own work, we are certain to get some new music that is a variation on a theme of the original. We get something that is as good and sometimes better than the original. We get something that is worth spending our money. We get complex compositions, a feast for the ears, an exciting and exotic mix of new and unusual sounds, samples, vocals, all wrapped up into enjoyable music.

When anyone else attempts to remix Yello, we get the usual thump, thump, thumping of some ordinary rhythm, and then just before we get too bored, another rhythm comes in, and then sometimes another, and somewhere along the road we get a small snippet of the original song, but truncated and teased, and this goes on for sometimes 3 or 4 minutes, sometimes as much as 7 or 8 minutes. ::yawn::

I purchased this album primarily based upon the reviews here on Amazon. I should have known better.

Here is a rundown of what is REALLY on this album:

Track one, a new unrealeased version of The Race, by Boris himself, but really nothing to get excited about. (Hasn't The Race been released in about a dozen different versions?) With so many choices, why didn't a better one end up on this CD? I'd rather listen to my favorite version, a 13 minute and 22 second verson I have on vinyl.

Track two, How How, from the Fluke single CD. I already owned it before buying this CD and I never listen to it anyway because it stinks.

Track three, a new version of More by Boris, but not really that great. Get the original on the album Pocket Universe.

Track four, Do It by Marky P and Teri B. Also on the single CD if you already own it (which I do) and not worth listening to anyway.

Track five, an excellent and totally new song, Topaz, by Boris, and not on any album I own. Almost worth the price of this over-priced import just for the one new song.

Track six, yet another version of How How, not by Boris, and available on another single CD that I never bothered to buy because the Fluke one stank so badly.

Track seven, a really lame version of On Track, by someone other than Boris. Again, get the original on the album Pocket Universe.

Track eight, a new version of Vicious Games, rather unremarkable, and remixed by Boris and some other guy.

Track nine, Rubberbandman, remixed by Boris, but also available on another CD single, which I already own...::sigh::

Track ten, She's got a gun, live at the Palladium, NY. I already have it somewhere on vinyl, but I guess it's good to get it finally on CD.

Track eleven, To the Sea, another non-Boris version of the most awful vocals on any Yello song. Why oh why did Stina Nordenstam ever catch the ears of Boris? And why is she living on in remixes of that awful song?

If you want Yello at their best, and all Yello, do not pick up this album. When will Yello stop letting others remix/destroy their work?

This album really deserves two stars, but for the excellent new song, Topaz, it gets bumped up a notch.

Its actually refreshing to see some people in this country that actually listen to Yello since the great USA
is severely deprived of some of the best music in the world like yello, Black, alphaville or Chris De Burgh and chris Rea. There is always great moments in remixes but the orinality is lost, I agree. its like being lost in translation.Well what ever your opinio = thank you for the apreciation you show for the most unique duo that ever existed in modern pop music.this Cd is best for collectors and Yello die hard fans.
If you dare to taste yello for the first time - please by Essential and escape with the beauty of the song "Call it Love". This is lovely and powerfull in its passionate diverse sound and simple elegant lyrics so often found in Yello's music. The others are playfully absurd and that is yet another face of Yello in its best - expression of the moods. yello is an impressionist of pop music - the Van Gough mixed with some honest Monet.
it is one of a kind in these guys are amazing for an open minded listener that is searching for the rare sounds of talent. Also get the "stella" before you go any further. The older albums are for a mature listener.
dmytry bova

This album is a great thing to own. Out of 11 tracks, I only found about 3 tracks that I hardly listen too. Thealbum is balanced, so ifthre is a dull track, it i followed by a great track. I'm a Yello fan and I will say this is a great piece, in the Yello story.

I'm almost a little bit suspicious about remixes, they tend to be not as good as the original ones. Yello's mixes though, use to be at least as good as the original ones. This album is both.
I was quite disappointed by The Race mix, and both the How How mixes were quite bad, to be honest. More and Topaz are very good and On Track is even better than the original. She's Got A Gun is exellent and To The Sea is just OK.
My final conclusion: THIS ALBUM IS WORTH THE MONEY

I couldn't wait to open up what has now become futility in holding on the 80's sound. Yello is master of intricate soundscape and bizarre lyric. All the songs dimensionalize Yello's past music into a 3d realm. Even the boring How How is remixed into trippy pleasure. Get your blotter and your gamestation ready and take a ride on the yello side for a taste/sound sensation brighter than yello sunshine.