How Can It Be Remixed?

45 minutes of glacial Norwegian pop, courtesy of a-ha.

Most of these are 12" extended versions from the 1980s, including a couple that remained unreleased until 2016. I've also opted for one contemporary 21st century remix, plus revamps of their two biggest songs from the same decade.

Mark Vidler aka Go Home Productions is perhaps best known as a master of the mash-up, but also turned his hand to some (unofficial) remixes. The Sun Always Shines On T.V. appeared on a GHP compilation in 2007 but dates from 2-3 years previously.

The Twelves are a pair of Brazilian boys, clearly inspired by the likes of Daft Punk and Justice, who released music on the trendy Kitsune label and did tons of remixes for the hip and beautiful likes of New Young Pony Club, Black Kids, La Roux, Groove Armada and Fever Ray. Their remix of Take On Me appeared on a Chevrolet (Brazil)-commissioned promo for the Vectra GT sports car. 

Of the rest, you get Morten Harket's vocals on full display, be it for ballads, club tracks or rockier numbers (or at least, Norway's singular take on the genre). I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of a-ha, then or now, but they knew how to write and play songs laden with hooks, for sure.

Happy Friday, everyone!

1) The Sun Always Shines On T.V. (Go Home Productions Remix By Mark Vidler) (2007)

2) You Are The One (Dub Mix Edit By Justin Strauss & Daniel Abraham) (1988)

3) Cry Wolf (Extended Version By Magne Furuholmen, Paul Waaktaar & Gerry Kitchingham) (1986)

4) Stay On These Roads (Extended Remix By Alan Tarney & John Hudson) (1988)

5) I've Been Losing You (Extended Mix By John 'Jellybean' Benitez) (1986)

6) Summer Moved On (Remix By C.L.A.S.S. Production aka Andreas Herbig) (2000)

7) Touchy! (House Mix By Paul Simpson) (1988)

8) Take On Me (The Twelves Remix By João Amaral & Luciano Oliveira) (2009)

1986: Cry Wolf EP: 3

1986: I've Been Losing You EP: 5

1988: Stay On These Roads EP: 4

2000: Summer Moved On EP: 6

2007: GHP Unofficial Remixes 2: 1

2009: Vectra GT Remix EP (promo CD single): 8

2016: Time And Again: The Ultimate a-ha (2x CD): 2, 7

How Can It Be Remixed? (45:39) (KF) (Mega)

'Cause It's My Time And I Stand Proud

Yuksek is a French DJ and producer, better known to his butcher, baker and candlestick maker as Pierre-Alexandre Busson. Most of the songs and remixes in my collection date from 2009 to 2012, when he was creating a sound not dissimilar to Justice, another French act that I liked very much.

Since his initial releases in 2002, Yuksek has continued to develop his sound, with his fourth and most recent album, 2020's Nosso Ritmo, diving into addictive disco and electrofunk to great effect (and the cause of my divergent, pre-emptive post yesterday).

I've taken ten Yuksek songs and remixes for other artists from the late 00s/early 10s, shaped them into two sides of imaginary vinyl and present a little under 45 minutes of Gallic grooves to get you in the mood for a wonderful weekend.

Side One

1) Fool For Love (Yuksek Remix): Das Pop (2008)

2) A Certain Life: Yuksek (2009)

3) Mistake (Yuksek Remix): Moby (2009)

4) I Like To Play: Yuksek ft. The Forum Digital Choir (2009)

5) Rue De L'Aresnal (Yuksek Remix): Bot'Ox (2010)

 

Side Two

1) So Far Away From The Sea (Remix by The Twelves): Yuksek ft. The Bewitched Hands On The Top Of Our Heads (2009)

2) Shame On Me (Yuksek Remix): Amanda Blank (2009)

3) Always On The Run (Album Version): Yuksek (2012)

4) Lisztomania (Yuksek Remix): Phoenix (2009)

5) Extraball (Y A L L Remix): Yuksek ft. Amanda Blank (2009)

 

Side One (21:54)

Side Two (22:08)