Grand National - Kicking The National Habit
I am going to disagree that DM Remixes 81-04 is for partying/clubbing or background listening, it's just too convenient to describe it like that. In most cases of artist remix albums it's true, but not always and DM remix collection is a chronicle and has a story behind it. It's pretty amazing that they have even put out this compilation, considering that only a few years ago Dave Gahan publicly denounced dance remixes of their tracks (the set includes some remixes they have barred previously from being commercially released). It's interesting to see how their sound was tweaked by some of the most influential electronic producers of the last couple of decades and DM have always been very picky and choosy about their remixers (like Bjork or Pet Shop Boys). Some of the remixes are better than the originals (too bad they didn't include the GusGus remix of Only When I Lose Myself, which I consider to be sheer genius). In any event, this collection is definitely more for the mind, rather than for the feet, there's just much more to it than meets the eye.
And by the way, I am a diehard DM fan since 80's, not some rave kid product of the late 90's. The more contemporary 3rd disc of remixes is very interesting too (different countries have different editions, dunno which one you got, The-odor).
And for all other fans - an internet-only digital-download 4-th CD of remixes (very rare remixes) is still available for purchase on DM's official website (the "secret" 81-04 remixes microsite).
cheers,
maksidrom
