Search - Soft Cell :: Heat: The Remixes

Soft Cell for the 21st Century!

Bran Thorngrave | Seattle, WA United States | 09/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"More like a 4.5-star release but figured I'd rather round up than down :) - Originally due in March 2008, then May, then August, this remix collection is available at long last. Finally! I've been eagerly awaiting it in case you couldn't tell. I'm pleased to share that it was worth the wait. I've really been enjoying these new takes on old classics. As a long, long time Soft Cell/Marc Almond fan I was very excited for some new, updated remixes especially with such a fun bunch of remixers on hand for the project: Atomizer, Punx Soundcheck, The Grid, Marc Almond w/Replicant, and Manhattan Clique to name just a few. I was confident that it would live up to my expectations. And with the exception of 4 or 5 tracks, it certainly has. Out of 26 tracks that ain't bad. Though I am left wondering where is the 40-track expanded digital release that the official myspace page mentioned?



Standouts for me are: Memorabilia, Bedsitter, A Man Could Get Lost (w/lyrics!), Heat, Meet Murder My Angel, Surrender To A Stranger, and I love what Solvent has done with Little Rough Rhinestone, one of my favorite Soft Cell tunes of all time. Another favorite, however, did not fare as well. The Spektrum remix of Numbers is dreadful. The added female vocals ruined it for me. What were they thinking? Pity. But the rest more than makes up for it.



So, if you're a fan of Soft Cell or Marc Almond and enjoy well-crafted remixes with plenty of reverence & respect for the source material don't hesitate to pick this one up. I'm glad I did. I couldn't wait for the expanded digital version so if I have to pay for it twice, so be it. Mr's Ball & Almond have brought me many years of musical delight. That's the least I could do ;).



"

Heat: The Remixes by Soft Cell---STILL relevant & sounding c

Nick U. | 04/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit, I first thought this collection of new remixes of the 80's Electro-Pop duo was going to be a waste of my time. I couldn't have been more wrong!! It is BRILLIANT =)

Whereas, many of the new remix collections of my favourite synthesizer bands from the eighties are mindless, sped-up Trance-style tracks that sound like they could've been done by a strung-out tweeker with a copy of Cool Edit Pro..."Heat" is crafted with care to preserve the uniqueness of this North England Pop bands songs. All the tracks are heavy on Marc Almonds dramatic warbly vocals (which I LOVE!!!) If you are looking for dub-version type mixes without many vocals (DJ style...easy to mix in with other dance mixes & be fairly anonymous---These re-mixes are probably not going to be your thing). The tempos vary greatly. Some are funkier treatments (Youth-The Memory Band Remix is particularly touching and features acoustic guitar & strings) others more are more on the House side. All are recorded beautifully with fantastic bass synth tones! One of the best things about these tracks: Many of the songs have been restored with "lost verses" that never made it to the album-version recordings! Who knew "Bedsitter" had all those great extra lyrics?!

I could go into a track by track description of each songs pluses...I won't. Suffice it to say: If you love Soft Cell, buy this album!!! Hearing these tracks redone for a new generation of Electronic music fans is great...but, since the originals still sound amazing and fresh, "Heat" is more of an welcomed supplement than a replacement of old Soft Cell favourites.

ENJOY!!!



Nick Urbino

Palm Springs, CA"