The Power of the Mix
Posted by: Foot tapper on 07 May 2017
I was thinking of buying the new Gorillaz album called Humanz, so had a listen via Tidal.
Ho hum. Some clever stuff in there but I wasn't wowed. The last track in particular, We Got The Power, sounded thin and splashy, mildly unpleasant and certainly not worth a second listen.
Then we watched the Graham Norton Show on BBC One on Friday night, when the live band came on.
It was Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth and Noel Gallagher playing "We Got The Power".
What a difference! The same track played by the same artists has gone from not great to a compulsive, captivating listen. The synthesizer bass line has changed from almost entirely absent to a driving force in the song. And the sound of the bell is phenomenal.
If you do an internet search for "Gorillaz Noel Gallagher", then Friday Night's recording will come up towards the top of the search listing.
Can a different mix really make such a difference?
The last time I remember a mix making such a difference was when Toploader released Dancing in the Moonlight, and that was in 2000. The Stargate radio mix just took it to a different level.
Have you experienced any albums or tracks where the mix has made such a difference?