As of two hours ago, Porter Robinson‘s desperately anticipated Worlds Remixed album is finally at our doorstep! The 12-track compilation features artists from all different backgrounds, lending their own personal rendition of the tracks we’ve come to cherish and replay to excess. The album is gigantic in scale, and breathes entirely new life into Porter’s creations. For any fans of his work, the work of the remixers, or of fantastic and fluid electronic music in general, Worlds Remixed is worth a focused listen.
Porter’s choice of featured producers is extremely effective, as the entire album follows one concrete stream of thought and expression. From the softer, crooning ballads to the explosive anthems, each track plays off of a unified vibe, tying them all together in a wonderful and cohesive tribute to his original idea and message. It can now be streamed through Spotify here, or purchased here on iTunes for $9.99. The following descriptions only comprise a few of my favorites.
The first track that struck me was Deon Custom‘s flip of “Sad Machine.” With his overwhelming waves of layered, future bass synth and to-the-point percussion arrangement, he is able to pull off a feat of production that few are able to imitate nearly as gracefully.
Rob Mayth‘s remix of “Years Of War” harkens back to this listener’s days of Dance Dance Revolution (the crappy foldout version I had in my house, not the arcade), and introduces completely unexpected energy to an otherwise mostly emotional and tender compilation.
Electric Mantis was one artist on the album that I was most excited to hear from when the roster was first unveiled. Known for his complex, optimistic originals, he’s proven himself now to be equally adept when given the proper track to remix. “Hear The Bells” is transported into a new environment through his production, one of distant vocal reverberations and constant flutters of hi hat.
Galimatias‘s jazzy and piano-laden take on “Sea Of Voices” is one of the most standout songs on the album. The small silences in between stabs of synth and slaps of bass are equally as important as the melody itself, giving the track a distinct subtlety and personality unlike any other.
Porter was right in giving “Fellow Feeling” to Australian duo Slumberjack. The result is a larger than life trap walloper, with textured elements galore and seemingly endless arrays of different sweeps, whirs, and thumps. Presented against the soft piano serenades and heavy spoken words, the power of the breaks are intensified tenfold.
Stream or purchase the full album to hear more incredible additions from Odesza, Mat Zo, Last Island, Sleepy Tom, San Holo, Chromeo, and Point Point. Well done, to all!
