Thursday, March 18, 2010

Quick Hitters:: Slate Pacific - The Safe Passage Remix EP

It's kind of fun when the artist says this kind of thing about one of their own projects:

The Slate Pacific Remix EP is an absurd idea that somehow works.

It's even funner when they're right. I reviewed this Fredericton outfit's last EP, Safe Passage, almost a year ago, and if you were to ask me which EP's I've heard in the last year are a perfect candidate for a remixed version of themselves, I have to confess that this one likely wouldn't come to mind. And that's not any comment on the EP's quality, I liked it quite a bit, but the heavy, emotional feel found on most of Logan Hawkes' songs doesn't seem to to make them a good companion for the uptempo electronic treatment. But that's why this remix EP proves two things: 1) I often don't know much 2) When music is concerned, it always pays to experiment.

Or rather, have some friend to experiment with you, and The SP enlisted friends like Paranerd, Professor Undressor, Senor Citizen, and Sean One to transform their songs - to a rather pleasing effect. Senior Citizen opens the EP with a fairly faithful take on Thirteen Kinds of Chemicals, adding some big drums and fizzy modulation to the moody track. The subdued drums & re-worked guitars used by First Words MC/producer Sean One on his remix for Jenn's Not Going To Make It might make it my favorite track on this EP. It certainly has some competition though, as the sunny, Professor Undressor remix of OEC is very catchy, and renders the original almost un-recognizable.

So kudos to the folks from Slate Pacific for being able to have some fun with their music, and trusting their songs in the hands of their friends. Now they want these songs to be in your hands, as they're giving the EP away for free, so go ahead and have a listen. I myself will be listening for new Slate Pacific music, in whatever form it comes.