- Who would have thought a double CD that comprises nothing but remixes could be this good? But when you see that the remixes are all the work of Mathew Herbert, you should have no doubt in the quality.
His vision in remixing is 100% innovational and 101% inspirational. Not content with 'housing' a track up, or 'chilling out' your favourite club classic, Herbert tears the original song up into the tiny sound pieces, then sticks it back together in a jigsaw like fashion. Creating brilliant syncopated beats, thick warm bass movements with cool jazz inflicted vocals, not to mention the outstanding keys, often resulting in a track that is so far removed from the original that you are struggling to see how the original artist still has credit on the record sleeve. The guy has a talent that most producers can only dream of.
The original artists range from the 1960s’ Jewish French jazz-pop artist Serge Gainsbourg, Presence (Charles Webster’s brilliantly produced soulful house project), San Francisco based vocalist Terra Deva, Planet E’s Detroit tech-jazz master Recloose through to the much heard of Moloko.
The only reason I give this a nine rather than ten is because with musicians like Herbert out there you never know when something better may come along.
TracklistA1. Nils Petter Molvær Merciful (Herbert's Wee Mix)
A2. Motorbass Ezio (Herbert Remix)
B1. Two Banks Of Four Street Lullaby (Herbert Gutter Dub)
B2. Mono Highlife (Remember Herbert's Mix)
C1. Herbert* The Last Beat (House Dub)
C2. Herbert* Banquet (Herbert Remix)
D1. Doctor Rockit Tape Measure (Herbert's Metric Mix)
D2. Presence Future Love (Herbert "Did This" Mix)
Vocals - Steve Edwards
E1. Furry Phreaks Want Me Like Water (Herbert's Tension Dub)
Vocals - Terra Deva
E2. Herbert* Thoughts (Herbert Remix)
E3. Terra Deva Fresh Start (Searching For Herbert's Mix)
F1. Recloose Can't Take It (Herbert's Some Dumb Dub)
F2. Moloko Sing It Back (Herbert's Tasteful Dub)