remixing prowess of a man who goes by the pseudonym of B has come to my attention. The driving force behind ten piece electro crew Dance Robots, Dance! pulls out big remixes for sure. First off I'm suggesting his remix of 'Oh What A Night', the original of which was recorded in 1975 by the Four Seasons. You WILL have heard that tune - and therefore you WILL know just how uplifting the vocals are. B takes those vocals, speeds them up, and adds an infectious Baltimore Beat underneath. He keeps many of the original elements of the song (vocals, fun-funky bass line and piano loops), which makes this track as much a testament to the original track, which appeared at the height of the original disco movement, as a cutting edge B-More track in it's own right. B-more as a genre is all about vocals mixed with early hip-hop style beats. It's music to make you feel good, and to have fun to. B achieves this easily. 
Second up is another remix which encapsulates the B-More vibe, though perhaps with slightly more tongue-in-cheek. B's remix of 'The Imperial March', more commonly known as 'Darth Vader's Theme' is an inventive, understated track. It begins with Vader's wheezing breathing (30 seconds of it...how decadent), and at this point it's easy to feel excited about the future prospects of the song. Rather than making this a bangerrr, B's style is much subtler, and he utilises a simple-but-effective 2-step beat to cut contrast with the hyperbole of Vader's theme. By the time the track drops for a second time B has it in the bag. I like the fact he keeps this song to around 2:30 - as I think much more would take away from the understated beauty of the remix. Whatever. Its a bit of fun, and it works well as such.
The other side of B's production is as part of Dance Robots, Dance! or DRD for short. Of the tracks available for download on his Myspace my favorite is undoubtedly 'Up All Night', a remix of the French Horn Rebellion original. The catchy bass line/vocal combination works nicely here, and the track is clearly under the influence of artists like Daft Punk. Slightly mainstream it might be, but catchy as hell it also is.
Finally a certain treat. B's Mixtape put together for
SXSW 2009 is a real gem. Jump Up out of
your chair orientated, it provides a pretty good synopsis of electronica over the past year. Moreover, at only 36 minutes long the mixing is kept swift, sharp and interesting. B also cuts a ton of samples into the mix, making it varied and keeping the listener on their toes. I definitely recommend this as a mix to pump before a night out, it's upbeat and full of originality, whilst the song selection is solid.
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