Search - Pizzicato Five :: Happy End of You (Rmx)

U-never-know-what's-around-the-corner

theformersnqueen | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"i'm not a hardcore pizzicato five fan but i really dig this collection of rmxs. the frenetic tempo and overwhelming composition of their songs is reduced, in some cases, to more lazy, relaxing beats and the different samples, choruses, and instruments are allowed to stand on their own without having to compete with one another for your attention. however, don't assume that this cd is all about downtempo; the remixers selected are not all of the same genre, spanning hip hop, techno, minimal electro, jungle, pop, and house. the forte of this album is that the remixes don't echo one another. love's theme is remixed by dan the automator. as the first track, it sets a great mood. some laugh-out loud samples are placed (unobtrusively) throughout the song. "mamma had many servants but she still insisted on making her own tortillas...oohhh, what enchiladas. today, my lovely american wife has no time for that kind of cooking. almost nobody does." an easy hip hop beat alternates with some lite mariachi music and dubbed out choruses that sound as if they were contributed by the boys of komeda. immediately, 808 state picks the pace up with trailer music. this song makes you feel like throwing on a mod smock, running out to the local supermarket and pulling cans of spam off shelves with abandon...perhaps a sort of soundtrack for stockpiling? the sean o'hagan re-tooling of my baby portable player sound has a dub feel to it and uses all sorts of sounds (vibraphone, chimes, animal chirpings) sparingly at first, then building up to multiple swirling layers. very nice effect. love's theme shows up again, this time remixed by saint etienne into a dreamy pop concoction. momus's rmx of trailer music (another favorite apparently!) uses distorted voices which are either staccato beats, diving airplanes or dead take-offs of the dwarf from the twin peaks dream sequence placed against gentle peals and clangs and very light skittering beats. uptempo drum n' bass permeates the shooter's rmx. however, it is melodic and not monotonous, constantly shifting its non-percussive elements. dimitri from paris uses synth elements, vocoder and disco beats in contact. it is probably the only song that you could really get down to on a dancefloor with and a nice touch. those who aren't huge fans of pizzicato five may find themselves really enjoying this disc. a diverse group of remixers results in a never-boring listening experience."

It grows on you

Matthew D. Mercer | Chicago, IL United States | 01/13/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not something I would expect myself to say about a band as kitschy and hit-you-over-the-head as Pizzicato 5. The remixes on here are widely varied in approach, some of which are immediately likeable but some of which take getting used to. The highlight of the album is from Oval, with a chugging, churning mix of "Happy Ending" which is essential. Nothing else on here really lives up to these expectations, although several come close, such as the chunky beats and boinging trance of the Daniel Miller/Gareth Jones remix of "The World is Spinning at 45 rpm" and the 808 state mix of "Trailer music." I loved "Happy End of the World" so this one isn't quite as great, but there are moments that make this one worth looking into if you are a fan."

A Japanese group and some virtuoso DJs....Pizzicato 5 !

Matthew D. Mercer | 06/24/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoy the sultry sounds of a Japanese female voice along with some mixing of a profound nature by some of the top domestic and foreign DJs in the world, such as St. Etienne, Dimitri of Paris, the Automator, and countless others, then you should feast your eyes, or shall I say ears, on this astounding and almost ethereal and dare I profess, "Groovy" album by some Japanese up-and-comers known as Pizzicato 5...well, actually, the remix of their release Happy End of You."