"Bloom" is the second collection of remixes to come from melancholy diva Sarah McLachlan, and it features the expected measure of housey beats, some really nice downtempo mixes, and a Black Eyed Peas track. Confused? So am I. Although Bloom has fewer ear-catching moments than its predecessor "Remixed" there are enough gems here to make it a recommended part of your collection.

1. World On Fire (Junkie XL club mix/GM edit)
2. Ice (Dusted mix)
3. Vox (Tom Middleton mix)
4. Dirty Little Secret (Thievery Corporation mix)
5. Stupid (Hyper remix)
6. Train Wreck (Sly & Robbie mix)
7. Just Like Me (DMC feat. Sarah McLachlan)(will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas mix)
8. Answer (Talvin Singh mix)
9. Fallen (Gabriel & Dresden anti-gravity mix)
10. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (Junior Boys mix)

It kicks off with a mix of "World On Fire" by Junkie XL who combine the moodiness that made Rabbit In The Moon's McLachlan mixes so endearing, with the kind of electro-housey beats you expect from Junkie XL. With numerous shifts in mood they make good use of the emotional content in Sarah's vocals while they follow a fairly predictable path of ambient bridges with drawn out builds erupting into 4/4 bass kicks and melodic piano climaxes. Remixers have a difficult task when dealing with music that relies on deep, emotional energy, and more often than not (as with BT's remixes in the prior collection) they completely strip out the emotion and leave an empty shell. I have to give Junkie XL props for really working with the emotion.

Dusted drop a mix of "Ice" (from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy) that combines deep, round synth bass with orchestral strings and minimal house beats abstracted by syncopating echoed cymbal and hi-hat. The strings have an almost soundtrack quality to them which threaten to compete with McLachlan's voice, but stay well enough in the background to reinforce the moodiness. The minimal 4/4 beats that are used during the intro and an instrumental climax near the middle of the song, are a little heavy, especially when combined with the strings during that part. This remix gains a passing grade but it doesn't lead the class.

Tom Middleton delivers on the candy house in this collection. If you're into the Robbins house sound you'll love this one. Not recommended for downtempo music lovers.

As if repenting for the transgression, Thievery Corporation come next with a mix of "Dirty Little Secret". Tambourine tip-toes through the intro, joined by ultra-mellow breaks and after a few measures, Sarah's voice rolls through in her trademark sweet and dusky style. Warm organ keys make the backdrop and offer a touch of Thievery Corporation's sound. There's a moment in some songs that is just so beautifully perfect, you just involuntarily close your eyes and sigh. That moment happens near the end of this track, when everything drops down to Sarah's echoed voice and then explodes in some really nice breaks. Sure, I may be biased for the producers, but the truth is the truth, and Thievery Corporation come through with one of the best mixes Bloom has to offer.

The Hyper remix of "Stupid" is a nice track that moves along on breakbeats, dark strings, electro synths, and a minimal use of McLachlan's vocals in its opening half. Harpsichord-like keys step in later along with vocal chorus loops and some dark, dull, chugging guitar riffs.

"Train Wreck" has a soulful, old-school hip-hop feel, compliments of Sly & Robbie. The snares hint at claps but aren't, as analog sounding synths loop through the background along with a nice bass line. Short string loops and string stabs make a nice compliment to McLachlan's vocals which are used almost in their entirety within this mix. Very nicely done.

Okay, "Just Like Me" is a Black Eyed Peas/DMC track that shouldn't even be in this collection. Beyond the fact that it wasn't even written by Sarah McLachlan, it's Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas who raps the majority of the vocals, as McLachlan's voice sings through in an unrelated chorus from the song "Cat's In The Cradle". The two vocal worlds collide awkwardly. So it's not technically a BEP song. It's certainly not a Sarah McLachlan song. Something went wrong here.

Talvin Singh puts together a nice version of "Answer". Subtle tabla hits tap through the background, as mournful sarangi and melancholy sitar circle around McLachlan's sweetly soft voice. Strings and other subtle percussive sounds fill out the sound of this deeply emotional mix.

Finishing out the collection are Gabriel & Dresden who offer up a dark, housey version of "Fallen" and Junior Boys who take the "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy" back to an almost Gary Numan-styled, ultra-analog, synth sound.

This remix collection may need to grow on you a little, but it contains some definite gems for Sarah McLachlan fans who are open to it. Just ignore that BEP/DMC track.

Add a Comment