I have been delving into the extended mixes offered by the YouTube channel 110Berlin and their output is getting very good indeed. It has taken me a little while to catch up with their output since my previous post.
Sometimes, some things still don’t quite hit the mark, but of the mixes I have listened to lately, the ones that really stand out are mixes of Sweat In Bullet, Careful In Career and 20th Century Promised Land. I think we can see the link with these three here, right? All of them coming off SAF/SFC – and that will always pull me in. The three mentioned just now are all fabulous – but the one of Kant Kino that has been done is just SUBLIME!
The Sweat In Bullet mix is also accompanied by a fantastically remixed video. Really entertaining stuff. That footage from the Cologne Rockpalast gig blended in, slowed down, etc, is just really working so well with the remixed sounds. And the ending is timed to perfection and just superb.
The fading drum echo on the Careful In Career remix is fantastic. As is the video for it as well. Topical to the song, complimenting the music excellently. 20th Century Promised Land also has a great, trippy video accompaniment and the treatment of Jim’s voice with echo effects is gorgeous. A really nicely produced remix. It manages to highlight just how fantastic Jim’s voice is on this track – those fantastic nuances he had to his singing voice at that point. I adore his voice from that point in time.
These mixes also highlight the beauty of Brian McGee’s drumming. I despair at how under-appreciated he is when it comes to Simple Minds and their sound. I really do get weary of the whole “greatest drummer in the world – Mel Gaynor” spiel that gets thrown about ad nauseam because….I won’t deny Mel was great and he brought something else to the table for SM. He certainly allowed for the bombast to develop in their sound but … I will never tire of shining a light on Brian. Never! This (even though my hair looks utterly shit in this photo below) was one of the absolute highlights of my fandom. This meeting right here. That face of mine is pure, utter delight.
Back to the remixes. For me, the one that has really gone beyond measure is the Kant Kino mix. It’s just so chill and ambient – it’s just stunning. I left a comment on the YT clip letting 110Berlin know how much I love it. Kant Kino has always been my favourite SM instrumental and it now has an extended mix that has transported it into something even more sublime than it was to begin with. I don’t even know how it is possible or how 110Berlin achieved it but I will give them due praise for doing so. You have excelled yourself!
If you have a spare 30 minutes, click the relevant titles to be taken to view the YouTube clips by 110Berlin – trust me, they are worth the 30 minutes of your time to enjoy them.
Happy Minds Music Monday – 30 mins of four bangs for your buck courtesy of 110Berlin Extended Mixes 2023. (I think this may make up for the lack of MMM content and posts of late.)
Sorry for compelling you to justify yourself. I?m not discouraged by anything you write at all; to the contrary, it?s inspirational. Let?s both keep going, making things!
Anyway?Samson. Listening to their Reading ?81 concert with MG as we speak. Briiiiight Lights. He even does a drum solo later on. OK. Now I?m gonna play some Maiden in Japan.
Aw, thank you! That sounds like a really good idea to me. Let?s build each other up and enjoy each other?s creative endeavours. ???
I listened to East At Easter last night. That is also fabulous. Keep them coming!
Hi there!
I thought it was you with the Kino comment, but wasn?t sure. ?
First of all, thank you for devoting a post to my YT channel. You?re a very early adopter, having mentioned it once already (only mere days after it was opened – the main reason it has had any visitors at all). So, thank you very much!
It?s funny that you single out Kant Kino, because (unlike most of the other mixes) it required very little effort. The ?algorithm? is simple:
1. Open track?s WAV or FLAC file (avoid mp3, if possible) in an editor (e.g. Audacity) or in a Digital Audio Workstation (e.g. Cubase LE)
2. Chop it up
3. Glue the parts together as you see fit -> export
4. Load that into a DAW, apply effects(*) -> export -> done
(*) For Kant Kino, I used this effects plugin: https://valhalladsp.com/shop/delay/valhalladelay/
I have dozens and dozens of ?ambient mixes? like that (of other tracks by other artists). They?re the most fun to make. Anyone can do those, seriously.
A lengthy aside: Not to be unduly defensive, but I?d like to point out that I have nothing to do with music or videos in a professional capacity (if that wasn?t glaringly obvious). I don?t really know what I?m doing, actually, and that?s part of the fun! Those ?plunder graphics? videos are often, I?m afraid, just something to do while the wife?s busy with the herbs and flowers. Some of the videos used are sometimes kept in their original form with only some minor editing (e.g. most of 20th Century). Others may be more involved, but I have no pretense of being an artiste?not that there?s anything wrong with being one. But enough of me. Phew. Sorry for rambling.
Totally agree with you regarding McGee. His contributions were/are absolutely essential. He could groove like the funk?s going out of style (Themes for Great Cities), channel Bonham?s gravitas (Capital City, Film Theme) or just be his quirky self (Brazil, 20th Century, Premonition, Naked Eye and so many others). Regardless of the approach, he always served the music. The discipline and economy is daunting; few drummers have the maturity and intelligence to ?get out of the way? and let the music breathe. Also: incredible time, especially for such a young player. All that is not to diminish the excellence of Mel Gaynor. As you said, he brought a different power to Le Minds? wall of sound and invariably changed the spin of the elements that made up the group. I read somewhere that he was in a band similar to Iron Maiden before joining. Makes sense.
Anyway?BM looks like he hardly aged on that picture with you (your hair looks perfectly fine, stop being hard on yourself). Next time you meet up, please ask him what his secret is.
All the best and, again, thank you!
It?s great to hear from you, and you?re most welcome.
I feel bad that you feel the need to say some words in your defence. There is no need, really. Like with Simple Minds themselves, I don?t love EVERYTHING they do and that?s just down to personal preference.
I love that you experiment and share what you?re making and not having any pro video or music experience doesn?t matter. I don?t want you to be put off or disheartened by anything I?ve said. I want to keep going and making stuff. I?m intrigued to see and hear what else you come up with.
A note of the band Mel Gaynor was in that was more a ?hard rock? outfit. They were called Samson, which also had Bruce Dickinson as a member before he joined Iron Maiden.
If I get to meet up with Brian again in future, I?ll be sure to ask his ageless secret. It might be as Jim suggests with Charlie and he has a painting of himself in the attic of his house? ??
Best wishes to you and keep the mixes coming!