Dave Clarke--Remixes & Rarities

Dave Clarke…where to start? The beginning is always a good choice. In the mid-80’s a young Clarke was a DJ for an assortment of genres, including hip-hop, acid, and rave. After beginning to record for record labels, he turned his attention on mainstream techno. By 1996, Clarke was releasing his own singles and albums and gaining recognition and fame. He has become a respected producer and DJ, and this 2-CD compilation takes the best of Clarke’s work and remixes from 1992 to 2005.

After some warm-up tracks, Clarke remixes Cars by Gary Numan into a faster ‘80s track while still keeping the classic melody and vocals. DJ Rush’s Freaks on Hubbard is given a faster beat and a quick taps that keep the song moving with a greater dynamic. "I’m a freak cause I’m nasty," declares Rush as Clarke spins the tempo faster and faster around him. Chemical Beats comes straight from The Chemical Brothers as again Clarke adds his remixing skills. Everything Clarke touches seems to spark with excitement and intense tempo velocity.

Next is the all-famous Zombie Nation, a track played everywhere: from the club dance floors to high school bands at football games (not kidding). And Clarke made it happen. Also included on the first disc is a vibrant version of Naïve Song by Mirwais and an acoustic track from Depeche Mode to switch things up. Dave Clarke’s own Affirmative Magnolia – a brash electronic haunter – closes out the first CD.

Phat Planet from Leftfield is a harsh techno revamping of a track that sounds like it has a pop core, like an inner foundation covered in a re-coating of electronic bliss. DJ Hell’s Hot on the Heels of Love is like some Blue Man Group act multiplied into a full-on techno attack that just won’t stop moving. Other tracks like Moby’s Run On and Death In Vegas’ Rocco are strong hitters off the second CD as well, and there are so many more imbedded in this huge release that could turn this into a 1,000 word review.

Point is, Dave Clarke is a master remixer and producer. Here assembled are his greatest works, in a monster 2-CDs of 30 tracks. Do NOT miss this, track after track will blow you away and keep you moving until morning.

(Published at 365MAG.com)