When one of the most talented production guys out there, Frail Limb Purity comes knocking on your door, you open said door, sit him down, make the guy a White Russian and listen to everything he has to say.
For one night only, CLT collabs with FLP and the results are spell-binding
FLP vs. CLT - 2 Heartbeats to Midnight
Childish Gambino - Heartbeat Justice - Two Minutes to Midnight Kristen Hersh - Mississipi Kite Prima Vera - Truby Trio
It's no secret what my favourite mashup of last year was, and I've already remashed that slab of classic cosmic japery, so here's my new take on one of THE soaring vocals of the last few years.
Cosmic Memories
Tycho - Dream As A Memory Florence and the Machine - Cosmic Love
It's always a pleasure to make a track with my good friend Fissunix especially when he comes up with big banging tracks like this! The Boss meets The Bass
River & Lights
Bruce Springsteen - The River Chase & Status - Flashing Lights Drifta - Into The Dark samples from A River Runs Through It Grab from Fissunix's page
And what a mistake to make - breaking the 14th Rule of CLT (thou shalt not mash James Blunt), this is technically my 2nd track of the new year, though you won't be able to hear the first one until around March time (ssssh...it's a secret project).
Giving an old classic a pop lullaby update for the 21st Century in a typical CLT auto-biographical stylee...
Much more to come this year hopefully, with a couple of collabs already planned, a few compilations, and maybe a DJ set on my favourite island (no, not THAT island)
It's a new year, and what better way to start off a new year of (hopefully) creative endeavour than with a new video for one of my good friends (and idols), Mighty Mike.
Last year, Mike released possibly one of the best compilations I've ever heard, of lush downtempo mashes, and we all know I love my downtempo!
Standout track (hard to decide amongst so many gems) was his "Colorblind's Worth It" track, taking one of my all time faves "For What It's Worth" and mixing it with a touching piano cover of "Colorblind". Colatron's mind moves in mysterious ways, we all know this, but the first thing that come in to my head was an up to date protest movement a la the Vietnam protestors. Cue the Occupy movement.
Regardless of your politics, I hope you agree, the words and imagery just seem a perfect match for each other. It's one hell of a track and it was an honour to put the video together for it.
Colorblind's Worth It
Counting Crows - Colorblind Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
Yep, after years of reading everyone else's top 5/10/25 etc. lists of mashes for the year, I thought I'd give it a go myself.
Choosing any track for a list is always a tough call - this year there has been so many great tracks, it's nigh on impossible to remember them all, but those who know me know that I have my favourite producers, and my favourite styles of mashup.
However, I've tried to vary it up here and include some tracks that really were notable for their genius, production values, and outright sheer entertainment. As well as including my fave guys too (seriously, I could have just made this the Best of Reborn Identity/Fissunix/Mighty Mike/G3RSt post and pointed you to their websites - none of them made one bad track this year).
So sit back, turn up the speakers, and enjoy this - in no particular order, what I considered to be the best of a very good year. Cheers!
Killing Days - Florence & The Machine vs. Echo & The Bunnymen Mr Rennell turned out what is quite possibly the most whistled in the office/car/shower mash of the year, taking two personal faves and making something so beautiful, it still shimmers all these months on.
We No Speak No Cantina - Meco (+ John Williams) vs. Yolanda Be Cool Not only is the G-Man reknowned for his polished production and never-ending refreshingly unusual sources, he's also the king of bringing a smile to the face with a hint of cheeky comedy, and no more so than in this Dark Side banger
Groove Is Down the Road - Dee-Lite vs. Consumer Rapport Ever the master of versatility, here's a huge slab of funk c/o cult fave movie The Wiz, given a full on party make-over with Dee-Lite on the vox
Super Jumper - ABBA vs. Van Halen The first and the best of the many ABBA mashes that appeared this year, this is so simply yet beautifully done, it's going to be on many a playlist for parties for years to come, guaranteeing a damned fine sing song and air guitar performance.
I'm In Love With Judas Priest - Lady Gaga vs. Judas Priest The Greatest Living Mash-up producer returned this year with a track so polished (and clever!), it made both original tracks sound like 4-track demos. Tom Wax may not have released many tracks this year, but each and every track he does release continues to contain a level of professionalism we bedroom mashers can only dream of. And envy.
Enjoy the Smoothness - Sub Focus vs. Morcheeba (ft. Judy Tzuke) vs. Imogen Heap One of the premier Mods over at Mashstix gave a few n00bs a lesson or 3 this year a year on how to make a track. 2 of my fave bands/artists meet the mighty liquid funk of Sub Focus, and the result is smooth chilled bliss n' bass.
Warwick Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs. Duffy The self-confessed melancholic and CLT hero returned this year with perhaps the most stunning use of Elvis Presley heard in a mash yet. Sublimely simple, but as with his amazingly simple yet beautiful hit last year, Chasing the Broken Hearted, sometimes, simplicity is the most complexly affecting.
Centrefold Rocketeer - J Geils Band vs. Far East Movement Here's something so unexpected; where FLP got the acapella from, I'll never know, but the result is a pounding dancefloor singalong classic destined to go down as a memorable "Where the hell did that come from" moment in mashup lore.
Only Your Heart - Elvis Presley vs. Blondie MAC has been turning out many many spectacular pieces of pop mashing this year, but none got me quite like this one! It's the attention to detail on the placing of the Blondie vocals to give it that Social Club Lounge Band vibe that elevates this above many other Blondie mashes. Great mastery of the DAW, and yep - it's another stirling Elvis mash.
Cracked Obstacle - Interpol vs. The XX (Deep Focus Remix) vs. Freestylers (Flux Pavilion remix) vs. Artic Monkeys (Aems Dubstep Remix) No one makes 'multi-mashes' quite like Bynar - eschewing the trend of bundling a bunch of acapellas that are in key together over a beat, Bynar composes a new arrangement out of loops, snippets of instrumental, ghostly vocals subtley hidden in the mix, etc. to create something quite extraordinary and dark. And here, he creates a virtual new track in my beloved luvstep genre. Spine-tingling.
My Life Would Suck Without Someone Like You - Adele vs. Kelly Clarkson Here in the list, because he paid me ;o) After a year spent moaning about Adele mashes (I really cannot stand her) around the boards, and after having my ears syringed after hearing a million Rolling In the Deep mashes (seriously- the Rick Astley of 2011), only CjR could actually change my mind and make Adele an enjoyable listening experience. Pure pop gold
Slick Empire - Chew Lips vs. Empire of the Sun Seriously, where do you even begin with The Reborn Identity? It's no secret that he's my favourite producer EVER on the scene, and to boot, I'm glad to call him my friend. But he's made so many beautiful tracks this year, to choose just a couple almost feels like I'm doing him a disservice. But I'll start with this beauty from the amazing Lectroset 2 mix album. Taking two of my favourite source files to work with, I'm gutted that I didn't do this one myself; it was one of those epiphanical moments where it was all so obvious to me upon hearing. But to hear my beloved Chew Lips come in to the mix midway through the set was one of those once-heard never-forgotten standout moments for me in 2011. Simply brilliant.
Fearless - Bryan Ferry (w/Groove Armada) vs. Frankmusik vs. Fenech Soler To choose one of the RI's electro bangers is nigh on impossible, especially when considering how many he made for Lectroset 2 (and of course, vol. 1 last year). I can't put my finger on why they are quite so irresistable - it's not my usual choice of genre for listening too, it's not quite bass heavy for me and a lot of the sources are unknown to me, but in his hands, they take on a new life that simply makes sense in the context of a mix. As a result, I've grown to fall in love with bands like Hurts, Yeasayer and Fenech Soler. That's why I love mashup - it expands your CD collection. And Bryan Ferry never sounded so crucial.
Battlefield Damaris - Pat Benatar vs. Patrick Wolf vs. Fall Out Boy Well, I had to include at least one of the RI's "verging on the orchestral symphonies of sound". And to hear the 80s classic brought up to date in this setting, making it still sound like it belongs on the soundtrack to a Jerry Bruckheimer blockbuster, is a treat for all lovers of music.
Cosmic Lifeforms - Florence & the Machine vs. Carbon Based Lifeforms The one that did it for me; simply the most beautiful track I heard all year, and made even sweeter by the fact that RI made the acapella himself. Complex synths mixed with haunting vocals, what's not to love? So good, I had to re-make it and re-mash it myself in a dubstep stylee for The Last Dance. When you inspire me like that, you know you're one of the best musicians, let alone a mashup producer.
Eden Snow - Ludovico Einaudi vs. Snow Patrol vs. 30 Seconds to Mars Ah, moving on to one of the most consistently brilliant producers of the last several years, Mighty Mike makes mashes of all genres perfectly, but this year he really pushed my ears (and mind, heart, body and soul) to their limit with his melancholic excursions in to the most beautiful of downtemp music. Having used Ludovico Einaudi myself a couple of times, I truly appreciate the modern classicist's haunting compositions (anyone who's seen a Shane Meadows movie or TV show knows exactly how Ludovico can make you cry within 4 bars of his scores), and to layer his beautiful music here with the love songs of Snow Patrol is a masterstroke of genius. Brilliant from start to finish.
Sexy People - John Legend vs. Rod Stewart It's no secret that I adore Rod Stewart. So to hear the legend here ironically with another Legend, in full on midnight crooning mode in a smoky bar in downtown Reno is a memorable moment in mash, and one that if I could sing, would be singing to my beloved Katie.
Colorblind's Worth It - Counting Crows vs. Buffalo Springfield Sometimes in life, you hear a track that hits you firmly between the eyes and makes you cry/fall in love/question your place in the Universe. This is such a track. This is on the playlist for my funeral.
Heart Shaped Tron - Daft Punk vs. Nirvana It's been the year of my friends in France for the most consistently perfect mashups in 2011, and none produced so many brilliant tracks as my friend Fissunix. Again, someone who dabbles in every conceivable genre from metal to electro, to acid to chillout, and again, he's someone that makes you question whether he has someone on the inside supplying him with these incredible source files to play with. Fissunix is simply put, incroyable! This track is the first in a long, LONG time that actually made me enjoy Nirvana again. Welcome to the grid - welcome to the future of mash.
End of the Walrus - Daft Punk (Boy Genius remix) vs. The Beatles Ah, the track that nearly began an internet war. This track will forever hold a special place in my heart as being the track that stirred mash producers everywhere in to standing up to the talentless purloining idiots everywhere that steal our hard work and post them as their own elsewhere on the Net. If you knew the full story of DJ Dark Temptation and the Occupy: the Dark Socks movement, then you'll know this was the soundtrack to the Revolution. And what a mighty fine soundtrack it was too.
Foxy Funky Lady - Jimi Hendrix vs. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings hold a special place in my heart. They were on the CLT/LAS make out playlist on Spotify many moons ago when Andy have love and fire in his belly. So it was a treat to hear them again here, with the legendary Hendrix tearing up a funky storm. Prime objective for 2012:- to make out to a Fissunix track
Smoke On Babylon - Deep Purple vs. The Black Keys Fissunix makes music to receive lap-dances to. Real dirty rock n' roll with attitude - perfect music for a Friday night in the Mash Cave
Between Breath - The Police vs. Imogen Heap Should any other proof be needed of why Fissunix was 2011's MVP when it came to turning his hand to any genre, here it is. The most compellingly lush version of Sting's ode to stalking that you will ever hear. All set against a beautiful Summer's day backdrop. Akin to drinking a drop of sunshine whilst floating upon a darkened cloud. And the Justin Timberlake of mash, Colatron turns up for the party on here somewhere ;o)
So, that was the story of my 2011 musical journey. I hope you enjoyed the ride. If you liked what you heard and saw, please do support the guys by visiting their web pages and be sure to support the wealth of incredible original artists used in the tracks here.
Stick around, I may have a track or three for 2012. Thanks again to all the readers of this site, and my friends/fans on Facebook/Twitter for the continued support.
Have a great New Year everyone and see you real soon,
My early entry for the New Years Eve parties, and possibly the most happy/uplifting thing I've made all year. Kinda (in typical CLT style). Andy's Party Rock Anthem! ROFL....
Trust In Humans
Chase & Status - Blind Faith The Killers - Human Alicia Keys - Fallin' Nero - Innocence
Part-inspired by the Reborn Identity's "I Shoulda Been There" (cheers RI for the vocal!), part-inspired by Fissunix's magnificent use of Imogen in his "Between Breath" mash, part-inspired by my nickname for the maestro when I introduce his beautiful breath-taking music to various friends and family, and ALL inspired by Jamie himself.
Here's a quick n' easy track from me, a birthday present from myself to myself and anyone else who'd like to listen.
Featuring local girl done good, the sublime Clare Maguire (fun CLT trivia fact #74: it was listening to her album in the car one day that I came up with the title for CLT megamix The Last Dance), mixed with the equally sublime vocal talents of Stevie Nicks.
I'll meet you up the bar, mine's a glass of fizz....
Following on from The Last Dance, here's the video and standalone track for a personal fave, inspired by future Mrs. Smarts, past, present and future...
Is This Distance?
Eleven8 - Colours of Distance Datsik - Havoc Bob Marley - Is This Love?
I'm sorry dear friends...I've been away for too long.
But I'm back with this - the final part in my mashstep trilogy which began with The Physics Disco (auto-biographical 'heartache and lost love'), continued with A Year In The Life (auto-biographical 'moving on') and now, The Last Dance - just mashing for the sheer love of it (with hidden auto-biographical subtext).
The usual Colatron experience, we begin with a journey through the Cosmos (hey Vrillon, it's been a while!), continuing via some blazing vocal pop, old skool 80s punk, electro-indie, 70s rock legends, contemporary electro-balladry, 60s love songs, serial killer song writing unexpectedness, 80s pioneers, sublime reggae, 80s unknowns turned rave legends, 60s pop princesses, cheesy Canadian diva-ship, indie shoulda-been-biggers, electronic pop warblers, legendary crooners remembered by my man David Lynch, 90s acoustic hair ballad purveyors, and finally a CLT sample frenzy with some old CLT standards meeting the guy that started the CLT revolution those couple of years ago. All mashed to a dubstep beat. Featuring my own take on my beloved Luvstep. With the usual sprinkling of CLT sampling extravagance.
There is only The Dance.
The Last Dance The Opening Number Starfleet X-Bomber (Episode 1 - Scramble X-Bomber) [1980] Carl Sagan - Cosmos [1980] Library Tapes - The Sound of Emptiness Part 1 Carbon Based Lifeforms - Polyrytmi The Voice of Vrillon [1977] Interview with WB Smith - September 6, 1957 Yuri Gagarin - Poehali! [1961] Carl Sagan - God, the Universe, & Everything Else [1988] Chase & Status (feat. Delilah) - Time
Cosmic Hearts[CLT v. The Reborn Identity] Carbon Based Lifeforms - Polyrytmi Florence and the Machine - Cosmic Love Florence and the Machine - Rabbit Heart (SLOF MAN Dubstep Mix 1)
Killing Time Siouxie and the Banshees - The Killing Jar Chase & Status (feat. Delilah) - Time Dom Hz - Blue
Dance With The Devil Fenech-Soler - Demons (Sigma Remix) Fenech-Soler - Demons Silent Hill [2006]
Haemophobia Feed Me - Blood Red (Original Mix) Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper Magnetic Man - Anthem DJ Shadow - In Tune and On Time (Live) [2004]
Chew & Status Chase & Status - Saxon Chew Lips - Gold Key
When I Luv You 2 Times Starfleet X-Bomber (Episode 2 - Super Power Imperial Alliance Fleet) [1980] Emalkay - When I Look At You The Doors - Love Me Two Times The King of Kong [2007]
Dark Nostalgia (Remembering My Life) Drifta - Into the Dark Dexter - Season 2 [2007] Deadmau5 - I Remember (Caspa Remix) Billy Joel - My Life
12 Again Project Bassline - The Twelth Step Eurythmics - 17 Again
Is This Distance? Eleven8 - Colours of Distance Datsik - Havoc Bob Marley - Is This Love? And There Will Be Blood [2007]
A Lesson In Luv Tom Di Sapia - Northern Cry (Cottonmouth Dubstep Remix) New York Dolls - Looking For A Kiss [1973] The Korgis - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometimes
A Downtown Knees-Up Tom Di Sapia - Northern Cry (Cottonmouth Dubstep Remix) Skream - Pick Ya Knees Up BBC Look East Report [unknown] Petula Clarke - Downtown
The Dance Goes On Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On Vibez - I Want Breakfast (Audiak Remix) Electronic Underground by Henry Hoffman [unknown]
The Silent Comeback Xilent - Choose Me II The Hours - Ali In The Jungle
Cannonproof Flux Pavilion - Bass Cannon (Zomboy Remix) Star Fleet X-Bomber (Episode 11 - Farewell to the Eternal Battlefield) [1980] Taken [2008] La Roux - Bulletproof
Stick To The Kerb Grifta - Curbside The King of Kong [2007] Angelo Badalamenti (feat. Jimmy Scott) - Sycamore Trees
This Is Distance? Distance - Night Vision Alan Black [2010] Poison - Every Rose Has It's Thorn Ital tek - Satellite
The Final Dance Burial - In McDonalds The King of Kong [2007] BBC Look East Report [unknown] Acclivity - School Playground [unknown] One Hour Photo [2002] Blade Runner [1982] The Day The Earth Stood Still [1951] Burial - Untrue Library Tapes - Fragment V Star Fleet X-Bomber (Episode 11 - Farewell the Eternal Battlefield) [1980] Claire Maguire - This Is Not The End
Download the RAR file with all tracks, art and tracklisting from The Last Dance
Or preview/download as single mixed MP3 at The Last Dance by colatron22
As always, a huge thank you to the Reborn Identity for his inspiration and for allowing me to re-mash my fave track of the last 12 months, to Fissunix, LeeDM101 (yeah, you know I like you really!), Sam, Becky, DJ UMB, Kristin BassNinja (who's choices of tracks have seen me through many a glum night), my original muses Phil Retrospector and Flying White Dots (without whom I wouldn't be who I am today), Dirty Joe South & Flufftronix for providing inspirational mixes (that drive me on in the gym...when I do actually go), Scott J for his continued enthusiasm and love, Alan for (unknowingly) letting me record drunken voicemails, thus providing my fave sample of the year, all my friends, colleagues, idols and peers at both GYBO and Mashstix, and of course... that certain lil' redhead that captured my heart, took it all away, and inspired 17 months of great (I hope!) CLT tracks and mixes. Love ya maestro.
I absolutely love it when people enjoy my tracks so much, that they feel moved to make a video for them, so I'm absolutely stoked that the incredibly talented GRAPHIQ put this little beauty together for my Starlights mash (see below)...
I rarely post anything other than tunes or videos here (because after all, we're all here for the music are we not?), and I'm so not in to shameless self-promotion, but tonight's news has left me smiling...
Seriously, I began this what 3 - 4 years ago? I was rubbish. I only started making decent-ish tunes maybe 2 years ago. I don't make popular mashes. I'm going to bed with a huge smile on my face.
I hate leaving things unfinished. This one began life some months back (end of last year? I can't remember now), but with only a DIY pella doing the rounds, I feared it would never see daylight.
Roll forwards several months... Beyonce delivers an AMAZING performance at this year's Glastonbury, and I around the same time, receive a little help from my friends (namely, The Reborn Identity) in supplying a vastly improved DIY.
That Holy Grail of the masher...a studio pella for the Beyonce track....still eludes us all, but hopefully this will keep you going for a while.
More Than A Boy
Beyonce - If I Were A Boy Extreme - More Than Words
No, not the band, nor the Dylan Thomas poem. No - this is inspired by a) seeing Kasabian in concert the other week and b) fortuitously finding a BUNCH of Kasabian instrumentals :)
Love In The Asylum
Kasabian - West Ryder Silver Bullet Florence and the Machine - You've Got the Love
It's that time of year again when the Sun is high and the tunes chilled out - compilation maestro DJ Useo has once again gathered a bumper harvest of summer-based tunes from the likes of Solcofn, Chocomang, ToTom, DJ Zebra, mARKYbOY, rillen rudi, The Reborn Identity, Voicedude and many more. I'm on there too!
Revere the Ride
The Calling - Flowing Time Ludovico Einaudi - Reverie Morcheeba - Enjoy the Ride and various summery samples
