Go Through Last Year’s Trash And Give Us Some More

The Rapture “The Sound (Ben Trucker’s Back To 95 Mix)” – Before I get into the remix, I need to mention straight away that I think the original album version of “The Sound” is one of the most perfectly arranged, recorded, and mixed songs of the past few years. Really, all of Pieces of the People We Love sounds amazing, but “The Sound” is the song where the Rapture’s intelligence about their craft, skill level, and knack for working with top-notch producers and engineers yield a track that seems to burst forth from the speakers and attack the listener’s central nervous system. It’s bold, visceral, and dynamic in a way that makes me wonder why it seems like everyone else is recording their albums in 2D and black and white.

On top of all that, Matt Safer’s lyrics are kinda brilliant. Most of the words come from the perspective of label people and producers, all of whom are doing their best to help his band make an album, even if they can sometimes seem silly or condescending. Though that may seem like a recipe for irksome petulance, “The Sound” is remarkably even-handed and mature. There are moments of parody, frustration, and excitement, but no one gets demonized for making the group scrap old sessions, rework material, and work overtime to develop potential hits. If anything, Safer seems grateful for being pushed harder, and pleased with the results. He ought to be.

Ben Trucker’s remix seamlessly mixes the most crucial aspects of the song — Safer’s vocals and hooks, the particular sound of the processed guitars — and seamlessly folds it into a straight-up house banger that would be compelling all on its own. The song can’t help but toss you around, but Trucker has smoothed it out, and made it less aggressive without losing much of the adrenaline. (Click here to buy the original version from Amazon, and here for the Throne of Blood MySpace page. People in NYC should note that the Rapture are playing a show with the B-52s next Wednesday at Roseland. OMGWTF, right?)

Bonde Do Role “Solta O Frango (CRSTBL Rmx)” – Not unlike Ben Trucker’s Rapture remix, CRSTBL leaves the vocal hooks of Bonde Do Role’s original completely intact, and switches out their dense beats for a sparse rhythm that props up a sharp keyboard riff that serves to sweeten up their melodies. It’s not as though they weren’t already plenty sweet — CRSTBL’s remix comes off a bit like pouring a cup of syrup on a bowl of Skittles. (Click here to buy the original version from Amazon, or here for CRSTBL’s MySpace page.)

Elsewhere: My final Hit Refresh column is up on the ASAP site with mp3s from the Fiery Furnaces, White Williams, and the Junior League.

Also: Prepare to get [oRiFIcE]fReAk3d by Criss Angel.