Search - Various Artists :: Prelude Mastermixes, Vol. 2

Not as good as Volume 1

Robbie Downes | UK | 09/07/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Nowadays a remix is often a completely new production, with only the original vocals remaining. But back in the 80's it was much more basic.



The Mastermix albums came from exclusive extended remixes that were made for New York's KISS radio station, by editing together the original 12 inch mix, with the dub or instrumental mix, and a few effects added. Very basic, but excellent in that they keep the feel of the original.



I had both this and Volume 1 on vinyl and back in the 80's so decided to buy again on CD. I had forgotten that when I brought it first time around I had been disappointed (enough to not buy Volumes 3 & 4 when they came out). Volume 1 is absolutely excellent, but this Volume 2 is just OK.



The first few tracks are mixed in to each other, then the rest are individual. The Album starts with the excellent Reach Up, but just as it gets to the best bit - the break and "Everybody Reach, Reach To The Top. Everybody Reach Up, Don't Stop, Don't Stop" it mixes into D Train's "Keep On".



The D Train mix doesn't really improve on the original 12 inch version. The Indeep remix is only the original accapella laid over a different, but not as good backing.



Sharon Redd's "Beat The Street" borrows from, but isn't as good as, the Special dub mix that Prelude put out on a 12 inch (flipped with a dub mix of "Can You Handle It"). Like many of the mixes here it suffers from to many 4 beat repeat loops.



The high point of the album for me is the classic Musique "Keep on Jumpin'", but on most of the tracks the remixes don't improve over the originals.



All in all, the album contains some great tracks, and is interesting as a way of seeing how the remix art started, but I would advise you to purchase Volume 1 for that."