Search - A-Ha :: Minor Earth Major Sky - Remixes

Silverside

loteq | Regensburg | 11/15/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Minor earth / major sky", the title track from a-ha's lastest album, is one of a-ha's strongest songs to date, offering an appealing blend of mid-tempo dance rhythms and ominous guitar riffs. This EP is a nice supplement to the album, featuring seven remixes and alternative versions of "ME/MS" which span a little over 35 minutes, so it's quite good value for money. First, we have the somewhat redundant 4-minute radio mix. Black Dog's mix (by the way, this obscure band has nothing to do with the trio which has released several great techno albums on the famous Warp label), however, marks a more aggressive stance and features an interesting mix of acoustic and electric guitar textures. If there's any other a-ha song which resembles this in terms of atmosphere and melody, it would be "The blood that moves the body". Millenia Nova's romantic remix of "ME/MS" is the obvious highlight of this CD-single, it outclasses the original with crystalline guitar playing, soaring synth sounds, wonderful melodies, and unexpected sonic trickery. The lyrics are reduced to the refrain, and although the music seems a bit laid-back at the beginning, it becomes much more energetic towards the end of the song. Unfortunately, the typical dancefloor takes mostly do little to inspire. The inclusion of Ian Pooley's "Deep mix" seems pointless (and perhaps only to fill out the disc), but ATB's "Club remix" does provide some sparks, mixing straightforward dance rhythms with strong keyboard chords and more echoed vocals. The 5-minute "Early version" sounds more like a demo recording and shifts the focus to the keyboard arrangement, yet has an unfinished and patchy feel. Finally, we have the 5 1/2-minute album version, the second-best track on this disc. Of course, being a remix EP, the quality is overall variable and the pop-tinged reworkings here tend to be superior. There are one or two songs on this disc you really don't need, but "ME/MS" still manages to be a pretty good and enjoyable release."

Minor Earth Major Versions

Orcifalvi Tamás | Gyõr, Hungary | 09/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"To tell you the truth I am a fan, but on the other hand I don't like Cd singels that have 7 versions on a disc from one song. This is what I found here. One tale in seven versions. is it amy good? Yep! This band has rediscovered its music and fashioned to the new millennium. My favourite is version number 3 which resembles to Blur whit its dark tone. The version made by ATB the famous german "techno band" is first but later it has a really good base and sounds well in the car. All in all it is a Cd worth buying, but only if you are a fan and open to new style by your favourite bend."

Just So Rich and Melodic

hille2000 | USA | 11/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The inimitable sound of a-ha is so evident on "Minor Earth Major Sky". I like it when you get a fistful of re-mixes of a song that you just love. Initially this song reminded me of their output from the EAST OF THE SUN WEST OF THE MOON album but with a greater rock sound behind it. The Millenia Nova mix has a very ethereal and gossamer esoteric feel to it. It just lifts you away. I liked the Black Dog re-mix. It gently rocks. The album version is my favorite. The early version has a raw quality behind it, which I also like. The two dance mixes just don't fit this song. "Minor Earth Major Sky" is just so rich and melodic."