Music is often described by those that create it as a labour of love. ‘Remixed With Love Vol. 2’ is exactly that: a selection of classic disco tracks remixed by a master of his craft. Joey Negro, otherwise known as Dave, has an intuitive grasp of what makes a good disco track good. He’s been in the game for years and has produced many, many edits during this time. What, then, makes this selection any different?
Well, firstly, these cuts are remixed from each track’s original master tapes. These are rare analogue beauties inaccessible to the average producer, which makes you wonder what terrible things Negro must have done to get hold of them. Secondly, these are well-crafted remixes the re-imagine classic tracks without losing the songs original spirit. Negro’s remix of Christopher Cross’ ‘Ride Like The Wind’ is a full-bodied masterpiece where lush strings and propulsive drums drive the tracks towards as surprisingly emotional climax. This might be the finest moment of the album. His remix of Gwen McCrae’s ‘Keep The Fire Burning’ keeps the intensity of the original’s vocals while adding sophisticated percussion. For a track that has been remixed countless times by countless producers, Negro does an enviable job of reinvigorating it for the dancefloor. Across the album, Negro demonstrates both his extensive knowledge of disco history and his extensive musical ability.
The album sounds, essentially, full of joy. Negro clearly enjoyed making this album – but it is an LP that could have only been made by him. As one of the most prominent international disco DJs of the day, this is the type of almost-vanity project that only he could undertake. But this is no bad thing – Negro gets to indulge musically, whilst the listener get a solid selection of reworked tracks, perfect for home listening or for the dancefloor.
7/10
Words: Alex Green
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