why remixes rule (sometimes)

Remixes can be rough, generic and downright awful;  they can either completely fuck up your favourite song, or make you see it from an entirely different dynamic. Granted, the tumblr-esque images that form the still videos of thousands of youtube remixes do put me off, and often for good purpose (many of them just sound totally unoriginal). There are however, some gems hidden in the sea of grey, and I have picked out my top three (in no particular order).

1. HONEY // SWIM DEEP (OCEAAN REMIX)

Oceaan has the beautiful touch of a stoned angel - he adds a dreamy, light twist to what was a tacky (but loveable) boy band pop song. The remix resonates with oozing, enhanced vocals and reverb, with minimalistic hair-swishing beats laid underneath. Perfect for lazing languidly on your bed after a hard day at school.

2. OBLIVION // GRIMES (RYAN HEMSWORTH REMIX)

Another genius track - Hemsworth manages to weave in a rap song, ticking electronic drums, and crazy synths to grimes' haunting single in under four minutes twenty seconds.

3. HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN // DIIV (MOONS 美愛 REMIX)

I have saved the best till last. Despite sounding nothing at all like the original Diiv song and the fact I have no idea what the bits in Japanese mean, I think that this is probably one of my favourite remixes that I've ever found. It has elements of both the Ryan Hemsworth and Cceaan remixes, but combines them with a song completely unlike the other two. The result? A strange, whiney oriental sounding mess. And I mean that in the best way possible. Promise.

-written by avalon x x

specific songs bring back certain memories

Songs are amazing memory triggers. They can bring back unwelcome flashbacks of tween phases, or take you back to music festivals and passing out at three in the morning inches away from your tent. I have chosen four of my favourite songs to get nostalgic to. 

1. 'Music When The Lights Go Out' by The Libertines

Last weekend, Nina and I saw Peace perform live at the Shepherds Bush Empire. It was the best night of my life, and not only because of the music - I met so many great people. My friend Alex and a guy I met called Mike spent most of the time that we were queueing singing this song - they had met literally half an hour before and bonded over a love of the Libertines. It was a pretty cool moment, and this song now brings back memories of the whole night. 

2. 'All I Wanna Do' by Splashh

I am the kind of person who discovers new music and then listens to it obsessively over and over again.  This summer I found Splashh through a routine search for new bands, and listened to nothing but this song whilst I repainted my room alone. The windows were flung open and this scuzzy psychedelic song was playing at full volume, and I was wearing nothing but denim shorts and my bra. It was possibly the most summery I have ever felt, and for me,  'All I Wanna Do' is now tainted with the smell of wet paint.

3. 'Corinne' by Metronomy

My friend and her family recently bought a very remote house in Devon - the car journey to it takes five hours, and it is at least a forty minute walk away from the nearest shop. It sits on the side of a huge cliff, with the sea crashing wildly beneath. My friend and I both love Metronomy, and this journey was very dominated by us singing along, very out of tune, to this track. Since Metronomy are from Devon, I felt that this was a very fitting song for our trip.

4. 'Tassleman' by Austin Williams and Ellie Rowsell

I saw both Swim Deep and Wolf Alice play live in London on the Where The Heaven Are We tour in September, and as an encore Austin and Ellie played this song - one that the couple wrote together about a year ago, after a couple of beers. During this song, there are some quite quiet breaks, where only the vocals are heard. I stupidly shouted 'YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTEEEE' at them, and I got a LOT of dirty looks from fans around me. Oops.

-written by avalon x