Genre: pop
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title:  Redesigned: The Remix E.P. Vol 1
Company: Light In the Attic
Catalog: LITA 12-003
Year: 2004
Country/State: Delevan, New York
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: 5 track EP
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6376
Price: $10.00

In 2004 the Light In the Attic label undertook an extensive reissue program that saw all seven Free Design albums reissued in vinyl and CD formats. Along with the original studio albums were a series of three remix EPs.



Given how time had largely overlooked the Dedrick siblings, I guess you couldn't complain about the reissue program, but the remix EPs were a different story. First out the door was 2004's five track EP "Redesigned: The Remix E.P. Vol 1". If you loved the original compositions, then these updates were going to take a little bit of time to get accustomed to. I can't say I loved all of them, but a couple were were simply stunning in their creativity.



- To my ears Madlib's remix of 'Where Do I Go'' came off sounding like an Everything But the Girl tune. The song was certainly given an Everything But the Girl adult contemporary rock sheen and the vocal even bore an uncanny resemblance to Tracey Thorn, though the end-of-the-song freak-out segment left me at a total loss. As a big Tracey Thorn fan I enjoyed the remake quite a bit/ rating: ** stars
- Mellow took what was probably their best known song 'Kites AreFun' and turned it into a trancy, almost psychedelic tinged slice of bliss. Very peaceful; very mid-1960s complete with jangle rock guitars and harpsichord ... I hate to say it, but the track actually had a Beatle-esque flavor to it complete with some great fuzz guitar at the tail end. rating: **** stars
- Reinventing 'Umbrellas' as a neo-soul number took me a couple of spins to warm up to, but once I got over the initial shock, the Marvin Gaye-meets-Steve Miller, via The Free Design was pretty cool. Wonder is Miller was aware that they borrowed huge chunks of 'Fly Like An Eagle' for this mashup ... rating: *** stars
- Perhaps the most enjoyable of the five remakes, 'Don't Turn Away' was reinvented as a bass-heavy ballad that was actually even more commercial than the original version. rating: *** stars
- Remixed by Belle & Sebastian's Chris Geddes, the first part of '2002 - A Hit Song' didn't differ all that much from the original, though the second part of the song morphed into a real remix project. The funny thing is the first couple of times I listened to the track it sounded like my stylus had swallowed a dust bunny, The fact of the matter is Geddes seemingly added that weird, distorted fuzziness into the mix. rating: *** stars

"Redesigned: The Remix E.P., Vol. 1" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Where Do I Go (Madlib remix)
2.) Kites Are Fun (Mellow remix)

(side 2)
1.) Umbrellas (Peanut Butter Wolf remix)
2.) Don't Turn Away (Sharpshooters remix)
3.) 2002 - A Hit Song (Chris Geddes of Belle & Sebastian and Hush Puppy)