I really haven’t given Ghostpoet the attention he deserves on here. During the dreary month that was February, I had his album Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam on repeat. The initial listens were tough, it’s a slow album (it has the word melancholy in the title…), and it really has to grow on you, luckily I didn’t give up. “Survive It” was one of the first tracks to capture my attention, and I decided to put it on my Valentine’s Day mix. Nothing is glossy and bright here, he speaks of real life things, like being broke and sad, and his hypnotic drawl ties it all together. I was pleased to discover this remix of said track by another recent love, Koreless, who definitely has the minimal melancholy down to a science. The single is out May 9th, purchase the album here.

Ghostpoet – Survive It (Koreless Remix) by ghostpoet

So it’s that time of year again, the season of list-making. I said the same thing last year, but I still feel the same, so I am shamelessly copying and pasting. Though often overdone, and largely mediocre, a good remix can be a powerful thing. It can transform a great song into an even greater one, and a not that great one into an enjoyable listening experience. They allow music to transcend genres, and when done right, create a song that one thinks of as completely separate from the original. I’ve chosen to list these by remixer and not the original artist. Obviously I haven’t listened to everything, but these are the jams that have taken over my year.

10. Fare Soldi [ "Start" - LBCK ]

EDM has the tendency to be repetitive, and can come off as really stale when not done properly. “Start” by LBCK was a track that I wouldn’t expect myself to normally go for, but the minimalist execution was impeccable, and thus was in heavy rotation for me during the springtime. Luckily for me Fare Soldi brought “Start” back on my radar with this remix that is entirely reflective of and independent of the original, an amazing feat.

LBCK – Start (Fare Soldi Alla Frutta Remix)

9. Toro Y Moi [ "At A Glance" - Body Language ]

This was the first Body Language track I ever heard, and it lured me in like no other. This remix by Toro Y Moi is brilliantly subtle and perfectly complements the delicate original.

Body Language – At A Glance (Toro y Moi Remix)

8. Millionyoung [ "To the Lighthouse" - Memoryhouse ]

Spring was filled with dreamy, hazy electro, and for me, this remix is perfectly indicative of that period, and of the season. A little bit melancholy, but with hopeful hints of pop, Millionyoung has completely elevated the Memoryhouse original to such a level that I’m still content to jam to it 11 months after my first listen.

Memoryhouse – To the Lighthouse (MillionYoung Remix)

7. Memory Tapes [ "Real Life" - Tanlines ]

Memory Tapes made my list last year as well, for his remix of a Fool’s Gold track, and here he is again! Tanlines are completely awesome of their own accord, but two musical loves combined can be an even more beautiful thing. This remix is stunning and still hits hard.

Tanlines – Real Life (Memory Tapes Remix)

6. Sub Focus [ "Hold On" - Rusko ]

Rusko‘s debut, O.M.G.! took total dominance over the beginning of my summer this year. It was actually impossible to listen to anything else, and dubstep officially claimed me as a victim. I didn’t think it could get any better, until I heard this Sub Focus remix that goes even harder than the original. Not for the faint of heart, the full experience can only be achieved once you’ve played this as loud as your neighbors will allow. Wobble!

Rusko – Hold On (feat. Amber Coffman) (Sub Focus Remix)

5. Javelin [ "In Heat" - HEALTH ]

I love Javelin like no other, and the nature of their original material almost guarantees that they will be excellent remixers. This remix rocks so hard that the only thing I can manage to say is Javelin + HEALTH = fuck yeah! Inarticulate, but spot on.

Health – In Heat (Javelin Remix)

4. Hey Champ [ "Beaches and Friends" - French Horn Rebellion ]

This is the ultimate summer song, period. The title is “Beaches and Friends”! It doesn’t get any more clear cut than that! I could listen to this song forever and ever, and still be content. In fact, I’m listening to it right now, it’s 28 degrees, and I’m still feeling all the warm beach vibes. Hey Champ took the French Horn Rebellion original and defined my entire summer. This song is perfection.

French Horn Rebellion – Beaches and Friends (Hey Champ Remix)

3. Rusko [ "Soldier On" - The Temper Trap ]

I don’t even like The Temper Trap (except for that one song), and I actually walked out of their DC show, but this Rusko remix is out of control. Out. Of. Control. I’m not actually sure that it’s possible to NOT like this song if you pledge any allegiance to dubstep.

The Temper Trap – Soldier On (Ruskos F’kin Seagull Remix)

2. Penguin Prison [ "Hurtful" - Erik Hassle ]

Frankly the original Erik Hassle track is terrible, but Penguin Prison has revamped it into a deeply soulful masterpiece. It’s remixes like this that truly justify the art form, and show that beauty can be found where you least expect it.

Erik Hassle – Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix)

1. The Twelves [ "Something Good Can Work" - Two Door Cinema Club ]

The Twelves are master remixers, and this one of a Two Door Cinema Club original is my most listened to remix of the entire year. The catchiness of this track just can’t be denied, go on, try to play it in a room and have your friends not ask you about it. Won’t happen. The original is mediocre, the remix is out of this world.

Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves remix)

That’s it for this year, let me know what you think I missed!

It’s been an embarassing amount of time since I’ve shared music with you guys, but enough apologies, let’s get back to it, I’ve been holding onto this remix for a while, and it needs to be heard! So I like Body Language a lot, duh, I think they’re the bee’s knees, the cat’s pajamas etcetera etcetera, and if you’re not already listening to their Social Studies EP you need to work on that. So they took on my new love Florrie‘s lovely and amazing track “Left Too Late”, and make it even more addictive as it is the perfect combination of their two sounds. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Florrie – Left Too Late (Body Language Remix)

Home Video fell onto my radar once before, but didn’t quite stick until I heard this remix by Montauk (who’s also responsible for this great track) that made me look (er, listen) again. It’s a song that’s pretty easy to love, delicate at first, with synths that rise and fall to construct this low key dance jam. Dig in. Bonus: the unadulterated version of “The Smoke” which is growing on me more and more.

Home Video – Every Love That Ever Was (Montauk’s Vacation Mix)
Home Video – The Smoke

Nothing warms my heart more than to hear of the purest form of musical love: the mutual remix. It began with Hey Champ remixing Gemini Club‘s “Ghost”, and ended with Gemini Club remixing Hey Champ‘s “Cold Dust Girl”. Love at first listen.

Gemini Club – Ghost (Hey Champ Remix)
Hey Champ – Cold Dust Girl (Gemini Club Remix)

My first exposure to this incredible remix by Sub Focus of Rusko‘s already epic track came during the tail end of Diplo‘s phenomal set during Electric Zoo (more on that experience soon). This is the kind of track that you can’t drop lightly, once that hard-hitting bass kicks in, it’ll be tough to find anyone around that isn’t dancing. Sub Focus manages to put a new spin on a track that is easily one of my favorites of the year, and now there is only more to love.

Hold On (feat. Amber Coffman) (Sub Focus Remix)

Some wise commenters on my original DJ Fresh post informed me of the awesomeness of the Flux Pavillion remix of “Gold Dust”. Well, you were right commenters, this remix does indeed “kill it”, let’s celebrate by dancing.

Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion Remix)

Having been a fan of Designer Drugs for a minute now, it seems a tragedy to have not come across this remix of a track by Annie (another love), sooner. It’s been out in the world for a while but still does the trick. Luckily a friend brought it to my attention in advance of their show this saturday here in DC (I’ll be there with bells on), and I’ve been listening to it on repeat.

Annie – Antonio (DESIGNER DRUGS Remix)

This track arrived the other day from the guys at Binary as one of their artists, Fabian, is responsible for this delightful remix of a delightful song. The delicate vocals of the original Dragonette track are effortlessly elevated to the realm of electro-pop in this remix, and I just can’t get enough. What a gem, this is going to be on repeat for a long time.

Dragonette – Easy (Fabian Remix)

The few tastes of O’Spada that I’ve had thus far have proven to me how addictive their music is, so naturally I was thrilled to wake up to a new track in my inbox this morning. “Pay Off” is unpredictable, undeniably catchy, and the accompanying video for is positively hypnotic in kind of a manic way. It’s already stuck in my head, and once you press play it will be in yours too. Their debut album will be released sometime this month, but for now you can get the single here. Also enjoy this remix by Rigas Den Andre, which significantly mellows out the original.

O’Spada – Pay Off (Rigasdenandre remix)