New releases round-up - 30th May 2011

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus

A veritable treasure trove of remixes of one of the band's best tracks, they come from some unexpected sources including Eric 'Call On Me' Prydz and Stargate (them that did Rihanna's S&M). Quality stuff. Expect more electronic loveliness on the band's remix album out on June 6th.

Linkin Park - Iridescent

The third Linkin Park single to feature on the soundtrack of a Transformers movie, Iridescent appears here in a slightly reworked form from its original album version. Nevertheless, it still represents Linkin Park at their most epic and emotional - a real tear-jerking rock ballad if ever there was one.

The Pierces - You & I

Last week we featured the girls' single Glorious as one of our picks of the week, and now we have the album! They are just *that* good. Blissed-out 70s charm and wonderful vocal harmonies, I expect this will swiftly become the soundtrack to many people's summers.

The Script - Science & Faith

The fourth single from the band's second album, it isn't likely this track will set the charts alight, but I'm taking this opportunity to give it all the attention it deserves as it's by far the best song on the record and I've been waiting literally ages for them to release it as a single.

Depeche Mode - Puppets (Royksopp Remix)

With the absolutely brilliant new Personal Jesus mixes being made available for download on iTunes last week, Depeche Mode now treat us to another of the exciting new versions from their upcoming remix album.

This time, instead of a well known single, they've gone for an album track from their debut LP. It's a good'un though. Puppets has always been a personal favourite of mine and the Royksopp mix plays gently with it, approaching it in a similarly contemporary manner as the Personal Jesus mixes were done in. Things take on a more subtle note here though and the vocals seem every so slightly tweaked, again, to bring them up to date.

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus (The Stargate Mix)

A few weeks ago we had the absolutely stellar Alex Metric mix of Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus, and now we have another, this time from Stargate. Clocking in at 3.58 and laden with glossy synth riffs, it's very radio friendly, hence what seems to be the 'Personal Jesus 2011' single cover art they seem to be marketing this under.

What's most interesting though is how this is the most 'modern' Depeche Mode have ever sounded. You see, Depeche Mode's charm is that even on their most contemporary of albums, they retain that dark beauty of their 80s beginnings, carrying with them the legacy of all their years in music. But with this mix, that is stripped away to a degree and replaced with a super-commercial dance mix. I have to admit I prefer what the Alex Metric version did, keeping the original guitar hook intact, but this is nice too. Oh, and it's very Pet Shop Boys-esque too, which is always good.

Personal Jesus (The Stargate Mix) by dmremixes8111

And if you're looking for something really different, then check out the Eric Prydz mix of Never Let Me Down Again. This was one of the other mixes I was instantly looking forward to from the remix album as soon as it was announced - when you get a big-name remixer on board like this, there's always going to be high expectations. Again with this, as with the Stargate mix above, it's very modern sounding. The guitar riff from the song's beginning is stretched out, elongated and tweaked to encompass the whole track; all laid over an infectious bass hook. It works amazingly well, and I guess my only wish is that this version contained more of the track's vocals.

Never Let Me Down Again (Eric Prydz Remix) by dmremixes8111

Remixes 2: 81-11 is released on the 6th June and can be pre-ordered here.

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus (Alex Metric Remix)

Depeche Mode's most famous hit, Personal Jesus, is one of those defining tracks of rock music - on one level oh-so simple, yet so incredibly effective. That thumping, rhythmic beat and that iconic guitar hook; all topped off with a killer chorus.

So how do you go about remixing such a recognised track? Well Alex Metric's version, one of the various mixes from the band's upcoming 81-11 album, does a pretty good job. It's respectful enough to the original - leaving many of the key elements like the beat and guitar intact - but adds enough contemporary elements to re-invigorate and revitalise this track for a new era. Indeed, in many ways this version serves to remind you just how good the original really is. A synth bassline and all sorts of bleepy electronic loveliness are thrown into the mix, a new sheen of gloss on what is truly one of the greatest songs of all time.

Personal Jesus (Alex Metric Remix) by dmremixes8111

Depeche Mode - Remixes 2: 81-11

Now this is what I call a fantastic CD tracklisting:

1. Dream On - Bushwacka Tough Guy Mix Edit (2001)
2. Personal Jesus - The Stargate Mix (2011)
3. Suffer Well - M83 Remix (2006)
4. John The Revelator - UNKLE Reconstruction (2006)
5. In Chains - Tigerskin's No Sleep Remix Edit (2011)
6. Peace - SixToes Remix (2009)
7. Tora! Tora! Tora! - Karlsson And Winnberg (from Miike Snow) Remix
(2011)
8. Never Let Me Down Again - Eric Prydz Remix (2011)
9. I Want It All - Roland M.Dill Remix (2011)
10. Wrong - Trentemøller Remix (2009)
11. Puppets - Röyksopp Remix (2011)
12. Everything Counts - Oliver Huntemann And Stephan Bodzin Dub
(2006)
13. A Pain That I'm Used To - Jacques Lu Cont Remix (2005)

Those new Personal Jesus and Never Let Me Down Again mixes in particular really excite me. As two of Depeche's best tracks, I can't wait to hear what contemporary spin has been put on them. Now, you might all cry that Depeche Mode only put out a remix compilation seven years ago, but to be honest, when you've been in the game as long as they have and got such a consistent back catalogue, you're pretty free to do whatever the hell you want. And as a massive Depeche Mode fan, I'll be first in the line to lap this up. Last year's Tour of the Universe was breathtaking, and with every album release Depeche bring out, I can only marvel again and again at the sheer force of power in their music. True icons.

Remixes 2: 81-11 is released 6th June.