Kollaps - Streets

My remix is going to be of Streets by local Melbourne industrial/noise band Kollaps. The song was on their initial demo tape that came out last year on Belgian label Silken Tofu and was recorded by Australian noise music icon Ash Wednesday.

The style of remix that I'll be doing will more than likely be an extended mix as if the song were being played live or improvised. So a longer intro, potentially a repeats of certain sections, extended outro. Also I am probably going to speed the song up just a touch maybe add some saturation on the mix buss just to reinforce the feeling that song is being done in one take and pumped out a PA that is really just not keeping up. Even though it may not seem like it, I am actually really enjoying EMP so I bought a Novation Launchkey last week. I have been sitting on it near every night and I think it's likely I'll be using it to play my remix in one take. So set up all of my clips, MIDI mapping and then trigger everything off of the pads. Having tangible control over effects and instrument parameters is hugely pleasing. Couple this with the ability to move between sections of a song based on how you feel while you are playing it, rather than how you programmed it and it's moving a lot closer to how I am familiar with making music.

The main artist that I will draw on for inspiration for this mix will be coming from Einstüzende Neubauten and the concept of Musique Concrete. Kollaps take their name from Neubauten's first record. That album is largely made up of layered feild recordings and other non traditional percussion elements used in musical ways. The original track was recorded by Ash Wednesday, who since the 90's has been a touring member of Neubauten. He has also been a pioneer in the Australian noise and synthwave music since the late 70's. These influences can already be heard in the bands song writing so I think pushing it further down that path by adding synth's, field recordings and noise will complement whats already been tracked.

As far as consulting with the band, I know two of the members rather well and asked what they expect back or what they would like. I haven't been given any direction as much as restrictions. So long as I don't take it to a place where it's becoming a synth pop, club banger I am doing fine. If all else fails distortion on the mix buss will save me.