Meat Beat Manifesto / Various Artists

"Storm The Studio R.M.X.S." CD

Tino Corp.

Genres: electronica, experimental

Tino Corp. Records
PO Box 225036
San Francisco CA
94122-5036

Dec 8 - 14 2003

Everyone's always complaining that remix albums are drags.  They're disjointed, uninteresting, and ultimately forgettable.  I'd be inclined to disagree, for the sheer fact that I love being contrary, but I do find that most of the remix albums I've reviewed have gradually made their way to the dusty nether regions in the back of my record collection.

World 1  Remix Albums 0

To say that this album, a remix disc of tracks from Meat Beat Manifesto's Storm The Studio EP, flows perfectly would be an outright lie.  While there are similarities between these tracks, it is quite obvious that they weren't all assembled by the same person.  Such is always the case with remix albums, it seems.

World 2  Remix Albums 0

But then again, despite its disjointedness, Storm the Studio R.M.X.S. is a remarkably enjoyable disc.  Certain tracks stand out more than others, it's true - but that's what a remix album is supposed to be.  A flat out competition between the remixers to see who is the penultimate champion DJ.

Highlight number one comes courtesy of DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid, who farts out a five minute plus mix of "Shadow & Substance."  Bang.  Not a second of that is wasted; Spooky brings on the funky techno like no other.  It's danceable, it's monumental - it could be the album's best (what else to expect??) - think Fatboy Slim crossed with Primal Scream and a little bit of Meat Beat Manifesto himself.

But Spooky's got rivals.  Norscq's "Lok-Lak Mix" of "God O.D. - Part 1" is a monumental, Asian-tinged organic / electronic combination.  It's equally effective in headphones as it is on the dancefloor.  And we mustn't miss Eight Frozen Modules' wiry mix of "God O.D." or the funky "Storm The Dub Mix" courtesy if the Twilight Circus Dub Sound System, nor can we ignore Merzbow's noisy rehashing of "God O.D. - Parts 2" or High Priest - Antipop Consortium's crashing "STS 2006."

Competition is fierce between the remixers on this disc, mainly because so much of it is really, really good.  There are highlights aplenty, and few duds to boot.  Storm the Studio R.M.X.S could be that one remix album you actually listen to more than once.

87%

World 2  Remix Albums 87

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 13 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2003]