DE/VISION REMIXED REMIX ALBUM MEMENTO MATERIA, SPR RELEASE: AUGUST 26, 2002 (SCANDINAVIA) REVIEW: AUGUST 26, 2002

The German melancholy masters De/Vision have always intrigued me. I have greedily put my hands on and loved every single output, except for Mr Editor-in-chief's grungy favourite "Void". Steffen writes fantastic melodies and transforms Thomas' heartfelt and sometimes borderline suicidal lyrics into timeless poetry through a unique emotional voice.
What bugs me about "Remixed", however, is that some of the non-single tracks included (the track listing is comprised by the fans' favourites from the years 93-96) have been completely destroyed by the remixer. Especially "Take Me to the Time", my "Fairyland?" favourite, has been grinded and battered into a hopeless mischmasch of "modern" dance music. I can only wish that those who share my disappointment in this track will give the fantastic original a decent chance.
Still, some versions do not surpass their originals, but do them justice in some form or another. The darkness of "Endlose Träume" is replaced with futurepoppish club beats and it works surprisingly well. As does the innovative sound mold now present in "Free from Cares", the opening track from the 1995 album "Unversed in Love". Some of the tracks are neither here nor there, like "Try to Forget" and "Get over the Wall", they're simply not interesting enough from a remixing stand point. But seen as a remix album and of course reviewed as such, "Remixed" gives enough value for your hard earned cash.

NIKLAS FORSBERG