COLLIDE VORTEX ALBUM ALFA MATRIX RELEASE: MAY 24, 2004 REVIEW: MAY 26, 2004

There’s always some risk involved when you release a double album of remixes. It’s inevitable that some of the mixes will disappear in the sheer quantity – 26 tracks in this case! Especially if not all of them are of similar standard. This is true on Collide’s new mix collection, and even though I have listened to it a couple of times now, the songs still all blend together in my head. That said, most mixes are well done, and imprints the mixers' styles on the song. Variation is good, with styles ranging from Charlie Clouser’s dark, trippy and guitar-laden mix of “Euphoria” via the softer and groovy Conjure One mix of “Tempted”, to the Headache's breakbeat version of “Wings of Steel”. All those mentioned are among my favourites, and bring a lot of fresh ideas to the table. Mark Walk's mix is of course incredibly weird, but interesting with its orchestral approach.
Also included is Collide's own mix of Front Line Assembly’s “Predator”, with Karin on vocals instead of Bill Leeb. It’s pulled from FLA’s remix album “Re-wind”, and is still brilliant. Karin and Statik have also taken the opportunity to include a couple of covers, and all three of them are quite impressive, with that unmistakable dark, sensual and edgy feel we have come to expect from the LA duo.
Of course, you’re not meant to listen through this in one go like I did. Pick your favourite version of a track. And “Vortex” gives good value for your hard earned cash.

JOHAN CARLSSON