Customer Reviews

Strange Behaviour

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Since their beginnings, DD always lavished great care on their extended versions, working only with the best artists in the field and producing songs that, unlike the norm (especially today!) have their own consistence alongside the originals. DISC 1 The remixes in this disc are real classics: the longer timings and the splendid arrangements reveal the full melodic potential of the DD classics from the first half of the 80's. They're all masterpieces, real pop classics, but I would just like to mention the splendid "Planet Earth": this is the "night mix" which is actually different from the well-known "night version". And Nick Rhodes' tour de force in "Union of the Snake"! And the heavy, speaker-to-speaker drumming of "Wilder than the wild boys"! Ok, ok, I'll stop here, but I should add that those who, like me, already have some (or all) these songs in previous compilations should not hesitate, because the whole set has been superbly remastered at Abbey Road Studios, and the older recordings sound better than ever. DISC 2 Here there's something more to say, because these later remixes are much less well known, and were, for the most part, published only on maxi-vynil singles. They're uniformly great, but in my opinion the highlights are: "American science": I didn't know this "chemical reaction mix" and it's absolutely mesmerizing, a superclassy remix for one of DD's classiest songs. "I don't want your love" and "All she wants is" are both by Shep Pettibone, displaying the intricate, rich dance-sound typical of him, with some of the best electronic percussions ever heard. "Too much information" (jellybean benitez): this was already great , but jellybean makes it funky and clarifies the arrangement, to stunning effect. And also stunning, in a steamy, funky way, is the Nile Rodgers version of the unfairly underrated "Meet El Presidente". "Drowning man" was a surprise, because it's even better than the original: that was somewhat over-dense, but here the extended timing and D:ream's great arrangement really make this song ROCK! A final line: this anthology proves once again that these are really good songs, because they sound great in every arrangement imaginable AND after many years. (Planet Earth is 18 yrs-old!) I think that the best punishment for all the critics that poured s*** on DD in the 80's is just what happened: they're condemned to live in a world ruled by Boyzone and Britney Spears!

Leave it to those wonderful European record companies to give us the best of what the U.S. doesn't really offer! I love a good remix, and this 2-cd set does deliver, I'll give it that.

Now, previous to this purchase, I had heard the term "Night Version" and/or "Carnival Version" (as it applies to a Duran Duran song) but had never really understood the term. I found out that it basically means "extended remixes incorporating long stretches of instrumental music", which is actually a good thing. I had long lamented the absence of "New Moon on Monday" from the DECADE cd but refused to buy the GREATEST compilation, and rightly so, because here it is right here, and in a longer form!

This is one of those cd-sets where you should just put them in the player and listen to while you do housework or wash dishes or something. Thoroughly enjoyable, and I even got acquainted with some really early tracks of which I had previously been unaware (New Religion, Hold Back the Rain).

"The Reflex" (Dance mix) is a must-have, and I must say that I happen to like the dub versions of "I Don't Want Your Love" and "Come Undone." All in all, no real selection of Duran Duran cd's would be complete without these two. Besides, you want to brag about your exclusive import cd to all your friends, right?

"Strange Behaviour," whose title is lifted from the lyric of the 1986 single "Skin Trade," is the first career-spanning remix album from Duran Duran. I already own many of these 12-inch mixes on vinyl, but it's convenient to have them all on two CDs. The first disc, which covers the years 1981-84, is classic Duran Duran, featuring "night" versions of the hits "Girls on Film," the original mix of "My Own Way," and "Hungry Like the Wolf." There's also a version of "Planet Earth," that I haven't heard before and is different from the one I own on the 1981 12-inch single. Other notable tracks are extended versions of "Union of the Snake" and "New Moon On Monday," although I'm no huge fan of the 12 version of "The Reflex," which verges on annoying. While the first disc is automatically a keeper, the second disc, which covers the years 1986-93, is where things get patchy. I can't deny the excellent mixes of the Nile Rogers-produced "Notorious" and "Skin Trade," and I also dig "I Don't Want Your Love" and "All She Wants Is." However, "Strange Behaviour" runs into a few clunkers such as the sluggish remix of "Violence of Summer," and bland remixes of "Love Voodoo" and "None of the Above." Even so, this double-disc set is a recommended purchase for Durannies who want a one-stop collection of the band's 12 mixes.

After noticing the price and the time it takes to ship this import cd (2 to 5 weeks!), I got to thinking about the "import" aspect...obviously, it's imported from the UK...and hey--doesn't Amazon have a UK site? Indeed they do. This CD can be had for around 7 pounds, with shipping at about 6 pounds (sorry, I don't remember the exact figure). Plus, there wasn't the big hold-up on shipping it. I got it in about a week. I also ordered a Sting import (also about half the price that I would have paid for it from Amazon.com, and with tracks on it that the American version doesn't have). I don't know if I'll get in trouble from Amazon for pointing this out, but if you're going to get this, it's a far better deal to get it from the Amazon.co.uk site. Even with the exchange rate. Just some advice.

And the CD? It's wonderful.

Like all critics, including the one above, they have NEVER given Duran Duran their due credit. This compilation is the BEST by far of any that have been released. I absolutely love this CD. The more remixes and dance mixes the better! Duran's songs are only made more powerful when they are put into longer versions; shows you the flexibility and passion in the music when it sounds just as good at 8 minutes as it does at 4. As for the review above, don't listen to it. I'd like to know what this guy was reviewing. If he actually listened to the music instead of watching it (and I'm not denying Duran has made some incedible videos), he'd hear some incredible music that is still as awesome now as it was two decades ago. It might help if people were to listen to the entire CD first before stomping all over it. Anyway, this CD is a MUST for any Duran fan, and for those of you who are just casual fans or have not listened to Duran Duran before, give it a try. It might make a believer out of you. OH, AND BY THE WAY, POP TRASH, DURAN'S 11TH ALUBM, IS DUE OUT MARCH 7, 2000! WOO HOO!

When i first found this CD, i was glad to see that it had all the 12 Inch Remixes and 12 Inch Extended Versions and Digitally Remastered of all of our favorite Duran Duran tracks.

Disc 1 : The Night Versions (1981-1984), all of them are all CLASSICS (Bar-None!), but If I had to crown the reigning champ of Disc 1, it has to go to "Girls On Film", this is the version that was used for the "UNCENSORED" video, before editing it and then using the LP Version from the "Duran Duran" 1981 LP, the Night Version of "Girls On Film" blows the album version right out of the water big time, it has way more sex appeal to it. Overall Disc 1 : "More substance Is better".

Disc 2 : The Remixes (1986-1993), Disc 2 doesn't have the same magic that Disc 1 has, it kind of falls short and at times makes it kind of hard to listen too (I don't know, bad remixing, it was the mid 80's, at times doesn't sound like a remix), but you have to like for what it is.

For serious fans and collectors, this is a nice package, and well worth its rather hefty import price tag. Several never before released remixes appear here, along with a few harder to find remixes. A few clunkers aside ( I don't much care for some of the later remixes, they don't really add anything to the original songs)this is a must-have for fans.

Whle the first cd is just a repeat of the night versions cd, there is the added bonus of getting to hear the new moon on monday remix. This track is awsome. The second cd is totally cool. The best of the remixes being the ones for skin trade and violence of summer. This is one cd collection that you can dance to. All fans will love it.

This disc gives you a great retrospective of most of DD 12" releases, all digitally remastered. It shows us how the band has developed itself over more than a decade. The sound is wonderful and makes us hear certain instruments that were totally hidden on the non-remastered versions. Very revealing. The first disc gives us slightly different remixes of "Planet Earth" and "Hold back the rain", without any extra production. The rest of the 1e CD is simular to its original 12" release. The 2e CD contains hard to get 12" versions of their later hits. The only disappointing thing are the dubversions of "I dont want your love" and "Come Undone". Don't know why the record company did that but these dubversions dont fit on this disc. They mutilate the original song too much. There are both excellent regular 12" versions of these songs and they should have been put on this disc instead. Too bad. The other 12"s are great, hardly any extra production so most of the songs have the same sound of the original. "Drowning man" is an exception but luckily it turned out to be a great version! A great album, worth its money!

The reason for this Strange Behaviour (from Skin Trade) is for us Duran Duran freaks who can't get enough! I just saw them live in concert and it was one of the best concerts ever...original band minus Andy Taylor. This album set features remixes of original work plus a lot of new material mixed in. If you like John jamming on the bass, Roger ripping it up on the drums, Nick mixing it up and Simon working the mike, then this is a must have. The first CD is awesome and the second CD finishes it off very nicely. If you are Hungry Like the Wolf for free-style remakes of some of their greatest songs, then savor this set. It is definitely worth it!