Depeche Mode

A lot has been said about Depeche Mode’s contributions to electronic music, but little on their enthusiasm for remix culture. This triple-disc collection shows that the band not only enjoyed handing their tracks over to a wide variety of producers, but that they often preferred the most radical of re-interpretations. The array of sounds and styles on Remixes is incredible: digital dub ("Personal Jesus”), acid house ("World in My Eyes”), industrial ("Master and Servant”), break beat ("Route 66”), rockabilly punk ("Nothing”) and hip-hop ("Painkiller”). The credits are highlighted with names as equally diverse and reputable, such as Francois K., Renegade Soundwave, DJ Muggs, Speedy J, Portishead, Goldfrapp, Dave Clarke and countless others of DJ culture’s finest. But what this compilation tells us most is how the concept of the remix has changed over the last 25 years. These days, a remix usually takes on the identity of the producer rather than the original band; it’s vice-versa on the Remixes. When Goldfrapp sings her own back-up vocals to "Halo” or Timo Maas alters the chords on "Enjoy the Silence,” the feeling that this is still a Depeche Mode song is undeniable, if not intensified. There are other mixes that could have been included here, but this is still the best of the numerous "best of” collections to come from the DM camp.