RemixGalaxy Blog

There’s no doubt that the music industry has changed immensely in the past decade or so, but sometimes it’s difficult to grasp the gravity of the situation. For example, three years ago Vampire Weekend was merely an internet buzz band without a debut album. Their Afro-pop tinged east coast snob-rock caught on, blogs fanned the flames, they toured the summer circuit extensively, and today it’s a much much different story. Not only did Contra, their sophomore effort, sell about 124,000 copies in its first week (an eyebrow-raising effort this day and age), but it apparently became only the fourth time in the 21st century that an independently-released album hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. “Indie” used to have a completely different meaning, one that did not signify whiplash-quick ascension of Billboard charts. Yet, this just adds some more interesting variables to the landscape. It just shows that, with a bit of luck, any band that’s very good can go at it alone without major label fat cats dipping into their pockets. Anyways, here are some recent remixes of the NYC-based quartet’s new album tracks

Vampire Weekend - “Cousins (Toy Selectah remix)”

Vampire Weekend - “Horchata (GMGN remix)”

Vampire Weekend - “Horchata “Christian TV remix)”

The folks behind summer’s biggest music geek mecca began selling tickets earlier today for Pitchfork Music Festival 2010. Focusing on manageable crowds, reasonable prices, and uniformly good (rather than big-named) acts has garnered this festival much praise from fans and critics. This year, the buzz is all about recently reunited group Pavement, who will be closing out the fest on Sunday night to hordes of die-hard fans who have waited for years to see them perform. However, of the seven participating artists that have been revealed so far, we’re most excited for James Murphy’s dance-punk project LCD Soundsystem, which will undoubtedly turn Union Park into one big party. Since July is still a long time away, we’ve dug up some remixes of this year’s artists to hold you over.

LCD Soundsystem - “Tribulations (Lindstrom remix)”

Sleigh Bells - “Crown On The Ground (Jane Bang remix)”

St. Vincent - “Marry Me (Etherea remix)”

Raekwon & Ghostface vs. Caribou - “Apollo Narrows (The Hood Internet remix)”

It’s hard to take anything read on the internet without a grain of salt, but sometimes people get so worked up over nothing that that nothing actually formulates into something. Confused? In the case of Texas rapper Bun B, rapping about there being “no mixtape coming soon” actually convinced people that a mixtape titled No Mixtape was on its way. Ever the opportunist, Bun B capitalized on the unlikely and misdirected hype by going back on his words and whipping up some tracks in a timely manner. Sure, it’s just another example of an artist saying one thing and doing another, but you have to admire that go-getting attitude.

Bun B - No Mixtape

Tracks:

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Considering the massive year French pop troupe Phoenix had, it’s doubtful you haven’t somehow, some way heard “1901″ yet. From blaring in the background at Borders to popping up in Cadillac commercials, the single has been as inescapable as “Poker Face.” Well, almost. Regardless, at this point making a “1901″ remix has become so redundant that the doing so is on the verge of coming full circle and qualifying as ballsy. Flashing some hubris, Jersey’s Memory Tapes took a shot at it and came up with a barely recognizable track. It’s by no means excellent, but not everything notable is.

Phoenix - “1901 (Memory Tapes remix)”

Aussie electro duo Empire of the Sun hit it big Down Under with their “Walking on a Dream” single and carried over the buzz to international success in 2008. It makes it all the more impressive that DJs and club kids are still bumping that track almost every weekend half way around the world. Featuring an upbeat, elbow-nudging pace and misty vocals that seem to float on a miasma of space dust, it’s one of the more notable party jams in recent memory. Hotshot DJ Treasure Fingers reworked the track with a healthy dose of disco house flavor, with interestingly bustling results.

Empire of The Sun - “Walking on a Dream (Treasure Fingers remix)”

It seems as if the folks over at Disco Dust got the drop on an excellent Russ Chimes remix of Ellie Goulding’s “Starry Eyed.” No, its not an Oakenfold cover. Russ Chimes churned out some great work in 2009, especially the remix of Frankmusik’s “Confusion Girl.” Not wasting any time, he’s started off 2010 with another spaced-out rendition. Ellie isn’t even planning on releasing her album until March 1st, so this one is popping up way in advance. Though at first listen Goulding’s voice breezes through the track with an ingenue-like quality, it also retains some of that otherworldly Fever Ray essence. We’re anxious to hear more from her, but this track will hold us over until March.

Ellie Goulding- “Starry Eyed (Russ Chimes remix)”

Ellie Goulding - “Starry Eyed” video

Just click the banner to take a peek.

Whether it’s velvety riffs oozing from a packed-in Mississippi hill country blues joint or Scandinavian death metal percussion crawling forth from a dank basement, good music somehow finds a way to be heard. Staten Island in the ’90s and Liverpool in the ’60s are two different worlds, but both locales birthed world-famous artists in the form of Wu-Tang Clan and The Beatles, respectively. If you think that two don’t have anything in common, you’re mostly right. Still, Wu-Tang’s RZA did manage to acquire the rights to sample George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on 2007’s 8 Diagrams track “The Heart Gently Weeps.” The results were surprisingly impressive. Running with that idea, UK’s Tom Caruana compiled an entire mixtape of Wu-Tang and Beatles mashups that retain Shaolin hustle and well-crafted instrumentation. Check it out:

Wu-Tang vs. The Beatles: Enter The Magical Mystery Chambers

Wu-Tang Clan -”The Heart Gently Weeps” video

Gucci Mane had quite a year in 2009. Releasing an album and six mixtapes is something most rappers couldn’t fathom doing even under the most agreeable circumstances. Mane did just that, and somehow dodged saturating our hard drives with diluted material. Still, what’s most impressive about the Atlanta rapper’s output last year was not that it avoided sounding half-assed. On the contrary, it was quite good. But when it’s done during an eight month span of freedom between jail sentences, the prolificacy is dumbfounding. Paying homage to Mane’s work ethic, Diplo rounded up an impressive crew of artists to work on Free Gucci (Best Of The Cold War Mixtapes). The resulting mixtape was released yesterday and is now available for your (free) listening pleasure.

Free Gucci (Best Of The Cold War Mixtapes)

Tracks:

1.Danger’s Not A Stranger (Diplo Remix)
2.Dope Boy (Bird Peterson Remix)
3.Excuse Me (Memory Tapes Remix)
4.No No No (Brodinski & Monsieur Monsieur Remix)
5.Frowny Face (Douster Remix)
6.Frowny Face (Emynd Remix feat Playboy Tre)
7.Im Expectin (Teenwolf Remix)
8.Boi (Zomby Remix)
9.My Shadow (Salem Remix)
10.Excuse Me (Diplo Remix)
11.Photo Shoot (Flying Lotus Remix)
12.I Be Everywhere (Mumdance Remix)
13.I Be Everywhere (DZ Remix)
14.Im The Shit (Benzi & Willy Joy Remix)
15.Break Yourself (Diplo Remix feat Lil B)

Congratulations to Starsweeper for winning First Place in the Trax 25th Anniversary Remix Contest on RemixGalaxy.com.   His solid production, smooth sound and great use of the vocals earns him a copy of Sonar Studio 8.5 and merchandise packages from Trax Records and Starr E Entertainment (home of rapper RPM).  Trax Records is also going to release his remix!

Second place went to Billyvan, who wins a $100 dollar gift certificate to Guitar Center and merchandise packages from Trax Records and Starr E Entertainment.

Even though we only had two official winners, Screamin’ Rachael wanted to give an honorable mention to HiBeats who submitted a track with insane energy for the clubs!

Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our winners!