Customer Reviews

Remixed

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

 

 

Jazzanova get made-over, reinterpreted, and redesigned on "Remixed," two CDs of remixes that make up an excellent collection of progressive, rhythm-heavy jazz and gritty electronica. Disc One is the more accessible of the two, featuring cuts that swing from nu soul, jazz, and broad strokes of hip hop. A groovy mid-tempo beat highlights Viktir Duplaix's version of "That Night;" Beanfield sets a mellowed-out groove to the chilled "No Use," and "Coffee Talk" gets some nice percussion through a remix by Yukihiro Fukotomi. But you get your real money's worth on the second disc, where it gets more underground and soulful. More percussion and a subtle Brazilian flavor highlight "Femdies Flight" by Kyoto Jazz Massive, while Jazzy Jeff gives a somewhat retro 80s soulful groove in "Soon." Of course, this remix CD wouldn't be complete without ONE disco jam, which brings us to the house-injected "That Night" by Wahoo. "Remixed" is for the mature listener who wants a CD that serves a dual purpose as an album to groove to, but also mellow enough for those impromptu get-togethers. I also recommend that you grab Jazzanova's previous double-disc "The Remixes 1997-2000" which is just as good as this.

Jazzanova is a global trendsetter whether USA fully admits it or not. Easily the best group to come forth in the last decade, this CD is a great sampling of Remixes done by top producers. Without mentioning anything else, the Wahoo mix with Steffen Berkhahn and George Levin and Wah-Chu-Ku remixes of "That Night" are most devine!
These two tracks make the CD more than worth buying. I have never had a song hit me so deeply, I cannot emphasize more greatly how incredible these tracks are! "L.O.V.E. and you & I (DJ Ghe mix)," excellent, groovy, lovely. "Soon," just an incredible song. "One-Tet," I think a good producer tried to make a bad song better than it really is, not accomplished to well. Lyrics are too cheasy, groove is too absent. Aside from that one track, the most dynamic CD I have listened to for a while.

In Between is a masterpiece. There are a couple of songs that miss the mark, but that album is deep. When you remix a Jazzanova song, you have to understand what took the collective from the vinyl sources to their creation to take it any further, and most of these remixers don't understand. The complex acid jazz rhythms and chord progressions that jazzanova uses CANNOT BE REMIXED BY THROWING A CLUB BEAT OVER A COUPLE OF THE SAMPLES. Most of these remixes, especially the majority of disc 1, are mere shadows of the originals. This collection could easily be trimmed down to one excellent disc instead of two mediocre discs.
I'll talk about the good remixes. Both of the ones by Domu are excellent because the original of Soon, in my opinion, was weakly realized (that bassline wasn't great). Domu is one of the few that matches chords to the melody in a vocal mix, which is completely necessary in a jazzanova song. Madlib's remix is good; he is able to match new rhythmic flavors to the original harmonic pieces. The interpretations that use live instrumentation, such as the one by Kyoto Jazz Massive, are also effective at putting a different spin on the song while keeping the shape of it intact. The crappy remixes don't have any respect for the originals' shape or harmony.
So the problem with this collection is too many bad remixes by people who don't know anything about harmony or how to construct a song. The solution: get rid of them and make it only 1 disc and stop worrying about all star overhyped remixers.

I heard the first track of this album at the music store and i knew i wanted to own it. Remixed is a collection of all commissioned remixes by the Berlin-based team thus far. Absolute groove, absolute funk and great down tempo beats, this is a smooth blend of several styles to make for an awesome chillout moment. Lively and contemporary, Acid Jazz isn't quite what i'd use to describe it (it just sounds too boring!)... reinvent Incognito, reinvent Azymuth and you've got the ultimate cool of Jazzanova.

...even "One-Tet", the track I hated from the "In Between" album is better. The "In Between" album was a real gem to have, this one is a must have. I could delete all the other tracks except the "Soon" remixes and still love this CD, but who am I kidding....THE ENTIRE CD IS ON POINT. Who ever said "lets remix this CD" is a genius and needs to be congradulated daily. The DJ/Producer line up includes:
Vikter Duplaix
P Smoovah
Jazzy Jeff
Madlib
Kyoto Jazz Massive
Bugz In The Attic
Domu

Hard electronic rhythms, complex beats, downtempo, dance, broken beats and remixed for masses to enjoy . For the past 3 weeks, this IS the CD I play the most.
I could go into depth on what every track does for me, but i'll just conclude by saying GET THIS CD!

oNe

Okay the original was awesome.. and now a 2 CD remix. Thought it would be great to experience these in new ways. Well after the original there is nothing improved upon for those of us who like Jazzanova. One CD would have been nice.. but 2 is too much.

After lending out their talent for remixes, Jazzanova has a host of remixers return the favor for REMIXED. While most of the tracks are off their IN BETWEEN album, a few other stray tracks find their way onto this collection. On the first disc, DJ Ghe adds some strings and guitar for a laidback mix of "L.O.V.E. and You & I" while Doctor Rockit electrifies "Another Fine Day," adding in vocals from Ovasoul7. The Stereolab mix of the same track almost doesn't sound like Stereolab until the moog kicks in halfway through, and the tempo changes. Ayro gives "Days to Come" a house rub, while King Britt gives a deep treatment to "Mwela, Mwela." On the second disc, Kyoto Jazz Massive sweeten up "Fedime's Flight" into a mellow house trip, and Bugz in the Attic apply the breaks to "Mwela, Mwela." Moonstarr takes "Another Fine Day" and beats it up a little; Wahoo gives "That Night" a driving groove; Forss dubs up "Keep Falling." Part of making a great remix album is choosing good remixers. Ian O'Brien presence on "Days to Come" shows that Jazzanova really knows their stuff. You can hear the quality.

I picked up the Jazzanova Remixed cds not fully knowing what to expect. But, I totally like many of the remixes on here, though some fall terribly short. When I listened to both remixes of L.O.V.E. and You & I, I cringed. I hate them lol! In fact, as I type this I am listening to the original masterpiece on the Jazzanova cd "In Between" just to get the bad remixes out of my head. I also didn't feel the way Ursula Rucker's "Keep Falling" was remixed. They took another jewel on the original cd and wrecked it. I was mad disappointed.

On the flip side, I really like all of the remixes of "Soon," and wasn't disappointed at all with the remixed versions of "No Use" and Takes You Back," which are both favorite songs on the original album. "That Night" and "Days to Come" are going to be favorites of mine, I can tell.

I think this collection of songs will grow on me. It's good relaxtion music, the kind to take your mind off of your troubles. But it will never compare to the original album. Some things ain't broke. No need to fix 'em, yanno? Still, it's a good addition to my growing Jazzanova collection. I would recommend it, but take heed that some songs on this collection will leave you shaking your head if you really know and appreciate true Jazzanova creations. I absolutely adore Jazzanova and pretty much will buy everything they make, so I'm hard pressed to think anyone could come behind them and improve on their songs.

Noted for their sterling original work, as well as some exceptional remixing work. Jazzanova are a highly regarded Jazz-House outfit, that have consistently delivered high-quality original material, as well as delivering remixes of other artists that (in some cases) surpass the originals. This time they find themselves being remixed by other artists. And the list of Artists doesn't necessarily revolve around Jazz-oriented artists. So alongside similar Jazz-referencing artists on their label (Beanfield, Yukihiro Fukutomi, Moonstarr, and Kyoto Jazz Massive), this double cd remixed album reaches out to Hip-Hop producers (Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, Madlib, P Smoovah), and the broken beat/ House exponents of (Ayro, Bugz in the Attic, Domu, Vikter Duplaix), with the utterly inspired choice of Post-rock, Kraut-rockers "Stereolab". (Who incidentally hand in one of the most thoroughly impressive tracks, by completely reinterpreting jazzanova's "Another New Day" into a Lo-fi synth instrumental, with subdued female chords).

"Doctor Rockit" (Aka "Herbert"), hands in sample contstructed, experimental house greatness with "Another fine day", fusing the trademark humourous melodies, and twitchy beats that earmark his work, this track could have so easily have made any of Herberts remarkable studio albums. Jazzanova purists may bulk at the wildly different changes in design, sound, Structure & arrangement, that remain far removed for the streamlined sound of Jazzanova's original work. But even they would be hard pressed to deny, that this a remixed double cd album, par excellence. And although their are various albums, such as: "Remixes 1997-200", "Inbetween", and even a new "Jazzanova mixing" album to choose from, this stand admirably amongst those superb albums.

Those Jazzanova fans that (like myself) haven't burnt out on hearing their reasonably regular releases, with find a great deal to enjoy here. As not only are the reinterpretations (in a lot of cases) vastly different from the original material, but taken separately, it's a hugely impressive collection of the various cross-over sounds from the Nu-Jazz movement that have gathered pace ove the last couple of years. Although those not familar with Broken-Beat, Jazz-House, Acid Jazz music, may want to listen to this one first before buying, as this is almost certainly geared towards those that are already fans of jazzanova's work and have an album or two. But irrespective of whether you have one or four of their albums, this is a highly recommeded release.