Not the conventional remixes of D.M

These remixes are quite bizarre. Not what I was used to hear from Depeche Mode's singles.
I always considered the singles of Depeche Mode better than the albums. But this remix #2 of Dream On has not so much personality than the others.
The four themes are tasteless, they don't add any innovation like the others two great single releases of Dream On, where the "dance" feeling is better than ever.

These tracks were oriented for experimentation, if you are a D.M fan, get it, but if you are starting buying D.M. singles, weird releases or dance versions, avoid this one. Not the best of Depeche Mode's singles.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Depeche Mode have many fans who have all come to expect many different things form them. Some like the lyrics, some like the "dance songs", some like the ballads, some like the use of electronics in their music and some like the atmosphere created by their music. I guess most of us like everything about Depeche Mode's music. I think they have done a great job satisfying everyones different tastes with these remixes. The Bushwacka mix, which appears first, is the mix for those who want to dance. The vocals are intact so that you can pretend that you are Dave while you are dancing. Track number two, the Dave Clark Acoustic Version, is a slowed down instrumental version with a heavy drumbeat and dreamy synths. It will work great on that Depeche instrumental c.d. you've been thinking of burning. The third track, my favorite, is the Octagon Man Mix. Picture yourself sitting in your car. Dream On is playing on the radio. Under your car a team of mechanics is doing an oil change and putting in a new transmission at the same time. That is the only way I can come close to describing the various "industrial" sounds the pop up in this remix. If you remember, and were a fan of the Adrian Sherwood mix of Master and Servant, this is the one for you. The vocals are heavily distorted here, too. The Kid 606 Mix, the last track on this c.d., is an instrumental mix which you could dance to or just sit and listen to. It mixes the dance elements and the synth effects nicely. It should also be noted that none of these mixes are excessive in length. These may not be the absolute best remixes of Depeche music, but it's been a long time since I've liked four remixes on the same c.d.

unexciting remixes

I bought this CD as a supplement to the US single. As it turns out, there is nothing particularly great about any of these remixes, and they are more for the DM completist than casual listeners. The first couple tracks are conventional, while the other two are more experimental.

The Bushwacka Tough Guy Mix is just the US CD's Bushwacka Tough Guy Vocal Mix with around 45 seconds edited off (30 of which were snipped from the beginning). Although "vocal" is missing from the name, every vocal bit seems to be present in this version. The only reason it was edited, I'm guessing, was so that the CD could stay under 20 minutes in length, retaining its classification as a single per British chart rules. That said, this is the best track on the CD. Fast and danceable, it has a nice midnight moonlight feel, reminiscent of "World In My Eyes (Oil Tank Mix)".

The Dave Clarke Acoustic Version is a slower instrumental based on the acoustic guitar part of "Dream On". Drums, bass guitar, and a synth string sound also enter into the mix, but are not intended to enliven this downcast reprise.

The Octagon Man Mix is gritty and ugly, with distorted vocals rasping over a choppy beat while random synth bloops skitter about. I wonder to whom this remix is expected to appeal, or in what setting it's supposed to be played.

In the Kid 606 Mix, highly-tweaked harmonizing vocals float wispily over light, fidgety synth drums and bells, while acoustic guitars loop off to the sides. It's bizarre but not unpleasant in small doses, so it scores points for originality.