Depeche Mode - Soothe My Soul (Remixes)

The first of many remixes of the sleazy "Personal Jesus"-esque song has been released. Steve Angello and Jacques Lu Cont (an alias of Stuart Price) have done the mix. They have un-swung the vocals from the original. The verses and chorus have been spread throughout the mix, not appearing totally in the original sequence. The Electro/House production of the mix maintains the sleaze factor of the original, but there are some cool dramatic dropout sections, mixing it up a bit. It's a fun mix overall.

Listen to a preview and buy the mix here (Beatport)

Grade: A-

Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light

This is reportedly the 3rd single off of Night Work. The Pet Shop Boys-sounding track has a multi-layered production calling to mind the UK duo's work during the 80's. The production while having an old school sound also sounds modern with the electro/pop music being made now. With its catchy lyrics, the vocals are also top-notch. Acclaimed actor Ian McKellen makes a guest appearance on the track doing the spoken part (a la Neil Tennant on "West End Girls"). The original version is nearly 6 minutes long, almost ready for club consumption. There are remixes of this by Stuart Price, Boys Noize, Siriusmo, and Sammy Jo & Nita. Stuart's mix is in the same vein as the original. The vocals are a bit clearer, however only some of them are used. It's more like a vocal dub. Aesthetically, it sounds like something Shep Pettibone would have done during the 80's when remixes were based on the original version. The Boys Noize mix is mostly instrumental as well. The Siriusmo mix has that 80's Funk style to it. The Sammy Jo & Nita mix is a bit more laidback, losing much of the 80's sounds. The original is the best of the bunch.

Watch the trippy music video here (YouTube)
NSFW

Grade: A (for the original)/B (for the remixes)

Kylie Minogue - Get Outta My Way

This is the second single off of Aphrodite. Already a favorite by fans, this one is a cute modern disco/house song co-produced by Stuart Price. The original is simply perfect. There are remixes of this by Stuart Price, 7th Heaven, Bimbo Jones, Paul Harris, Sidney Sampson, Daddy's Groove, Mat Zo and Kris Menace. Stuart's mix is basically an extended version of the original. The 7th Heaven mix is in a similar direction as the original and plays up the disco elements. The Bimbo Jones mix is a tad darker. Paul Harris' mix is sort of the 'in-between' of the original and Bimbo mixes. Sidney Samson's mix is a bit more big room-ish. The Daddy's Groove mix has less vocals, however the instrumental production is really nice. It's hard but keeps the disco vibe of the original. Mat Zo's mix is a bit of everything but also keeps the uplifting vibe intact. Kris Menace's mix feels like a watered down, mild version of the original. Overall, the 7th Heaven and Daddy's Groove mixes are the best of the bunch.

Grade: A

Kylie Minogue - All The Lovers

This is the lead single off of her much-awaited new album Aphrodite. Produced by Stuart Price, this song has that retro sounds he is known for. This has a really nice 80's synthpop feel. Kylie's vocals are chilled and smooth. Her voice has an almost fluid feel which meshes well with the production. The song does immediately call to mind Erasure's classic "A Little Respect" when it gets to the chorus. Nothing wrong with that. This is a great start to her next album era.

Listen to a full preview here (YouTube)

Grade: A-