The Music Of Sound X Minimums – First Light
This has such a cinematic feel to it, and I wouldn’t expect any less from Minimums having played and reviewed their work before. This is like an overture to the album and it’s an inspired choice both in choice of remixer and the sequence in which this album is put together. There is a lovely orchestral part in the intro and then when the track gets started there’s a dance element to it, as well as what I suspect is a sitar. Now this is very cleverly done, given the fact that The Music Of Sound has recently gone through a line up change with the addition of Sherry who’s from India. So, there’s a southern Asian influence here. Add to that some subtle tablas then you have a brilliant track.
The Music Of Sound X The Happy Somethings – Aanandi
The Happy Somethings give us some 60s flavoured indie pop with this one, adding guitars to this. This kind of reminds me of 5th Dimension, with a bit of the new seekers, they add bird song to this as well, which gives you that sepia feel.
The Music Of Sound X Paul F Cook – M10
Paul F Cook steps up to the plate for this one, an instrumental on the original album and turns it from what was originally a track with a bit of swing to it to a great slice of electronica, the drum machines sound delightfully vintage, and drives the rhythm of the track over all. The synths float in and out as well as Elena’s flute He also adds a spoken word audio clip that sounds like it’s been lifted from an instructional tape. I like that!
The Music Of Sound X Andrew Hartshorn – Berceuse
Andrew Hartshorn is The Music Of Sound’s label boss, and what he’s done here is added strings to this, again with the cinematic elements this one made me smile, this is close enough to being one of my favourite tracks on the album.
The Music Of Sound X Alien Alarms (Underdog Remix) – To The Valleys By Rail
This one is a drum n bass mash up, it’s trippy because the beat is broken up every so often, and it seems to derail the track (No pun intended) to make it unnerving, you just don’t know what you’re going to discover the more you listen to it. One thing I’d like to point out now we are at the halfway point is that each remixer has taken all or some of the elements of the tracks and reconstructed them, what I like is that Alien Alarms has taken the vocals here and turned it into its own instrument, it sounds like a synth lead and I love that!
The Music Of Sound X Neil March – Inner City Lullaby
This is an instrumental and The Music Of Sound’s composer Neil March steps to the plate for this one, adding a drum beat to it, and beefing up the overall sound. This has a driving groove to it, it changes it from a very slow track to a more uptempo feel. It lifts the character of the track but still keeps its integrity. Another favourite on the album!
The Music Of Sound X Poetical Nadz
This was a surprising choice but in a positive sense. Poetical Nadz brought her own footprint to this. I’ve been a fan of Poetical Nadz for a long time and this just adds another element to her capabilities. She adds a drum beat to the percussion on this, also adding dance elements but nothing overpowering – when it comes to her verses though she comes in steady and makes it sound like she was always part of the project. I like the fact she switches to half time for this part just to add a little flavour to it.
The Music Of Sound X ARPRAXIS – The Water Chord
Ahhh now time for a dance remix! ARPRAXIS is a new edition to the FOTN team, and a recent fresh fave so he’s having a great year so far! ARPRAXIS adds slap bass to the track, making it really pop, the drums really stand out on this. Add to that a tiny sample of Neil’s vocals on this, plus a bit of Rhodes piano and you get a lovely fusion of 1990s dance along with a touch of acid jazz as well.. I like the way there’s a false ending as well halfway through – the vocal sample is pitched down and then the whole track comes back in for a B section, which is genius! I love the tom rolls on this. Well done ARPRAXIS!
The Music Of Sound x Paul F Cook – Second Light Remix
This is Paul’s second contribution to the production, and I have to salute him for this because…
Wow.
The guitar playing on this is just beautiful! I couldn’t expect any less. This makes it sounds like a lullaby, add to that the harmonica and the vocals and you have a song that just wraps you up in warmth. Paul F Cook is the obvious choice for this remix, especially with his masterful guitar playing evidenced here.
The Whole Town Is Singing (Main Theme Remix)
The drums really lift this track, as originally it was a soundscape, and given the hypnotic synth sound it slots in really well. I like the intro, as it sounds like a field recording of the hustle and bustle of a town. The track gives me images of a town with its diversity, the different instruments could represent old and new, the melodies being played differently could represent different races, the different harmonies representing different religions. In today’s world it shouldn’t work even if we were to take away the different representations but it really does.
For me that’s the whole point of this album, but I will come back to that in a second…
The Music Of Sound X Sharon Katta – First Light (Sharon Katta Remix)
Sharon Katta is a new artist to me, I only came across his work recently as he submitted to FOTN. Neil approached him to do this remix, and he brings his unique flavour to this. He brings classical strings mixed with Indian elements with the melodies. The vocals are stretched and glitched, the after effects add to the overall production. Overall, it seems like Sharon took the core elements of The Music Of Sound – Neil’s keyboards, Sherry’s vocals, and Elena’s flute – and placed them into his own world. The whole backdrop of lush strings, sitars, electronica… It makes me want to dive more into Sharon’s own catalogue.
The Music Of Sound X Hello Midlands – M10 (Hello Midlands Remix)
The album closer! There is no indication as to where the opening monologue comes from, however this has a prog rock feel to it, reminding me a bit of Pink Floyd. Is this intentional? I’m not sure, it’s wistful and whisks you off into a dreamy space, especially with the acoustic guitars. The ghostly vocals add more to the mystery of this, the Nick Mason-esque drums remind me of “The Great Gig In The Sky”. Since that’s one of my favourite Pink Floyd songs that’s not a bad thing! This has a trippy feel to it, and as the track fades off into the sunset it’s a nice note to finish off on….
Looking back on this, what The Music Of Sound have done is gathered a whole community of musicians – a whole town if you like – to remix an already outstanding album. Everyone’s singing, or playing their own part, but like the main theme says, the whole town is singing – it doesn’t matter your background, your age, your experience there’s always room at the table for you where music is concerned and this embodies that.
