To start with, their main appeal was mainly due to the fact that Brian Eno was a member. Long before Mr. Eno created ambient music, collaborated with Bowie, U2 and David Byrne and got involved in promoting world music (as with Rachid Taha at Bestival) he was almost single headedly responsible for the popularisation of electronic music with his appearance on Top Of The Pops with the first single, ‘Virginia Plain’. The obligatory 70s long hair, space age clothes, androgynous looks and early snyths, he was as close to Sun Ra as you could get on the tele at the time.

So the prospect of a remix of ’ Virginia Plain’ has the potential to be a poisoned chalice. Luckily, it’s that Headman Robi Insinna from Relish again. Not too adventurous and very respectful of its position in music history; it’s a solid rework and keeps Eno and Mackay’s classic sax.

This appears on a promo Remix #3 for DJ types and it’s what’s known in the biz as “viral marketing”. Apparently the album is due out later in the year but as some of Fly’s friends are involved, I’m biting my post Eno lip to come to grips with these tracks.

That said, starting with Remix #1, the Glimmers remix of ‘Same Old Scene’ puts some life into what was a dirge to start with while our Misch Mash masters, Tiefschwarz are on top form with their version of ‘Rain, Rain, Rain’ (it’d have been better without the little bit of vocal in my books).

‘Angel Eyes’ ranks as one of my least favourite tunes ever so I can’t comment (Ed. What!) but it’s the harp that is the best part of it (see Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby for serious jazz harp).

As I maintain that after 1975 it was mostly downhill for Roxy Music as Eno left and Ferry’s ego exploded, you’ll be able to pick up the Greatest Hits album very cheap these days for original versions of the good stuff. Particularly, the classics like ‘Pyjamarama’, ‘Editions of You’ and ‘Love Is The Drug’. These three are rumoured to have been already earmarked by David Gilmour Girls, Peaches and DJs Are Not Rockstars/Princess Superstar for the remixes.

Paul ‘Phones’ Epworth carries on from his ‘Sharpen The Knives’ with ‘Editions Of You’ as it tares up the track into an electro thrash rave; what the Dylanesque Ferry would make of it you can only guess.

So while I make my pitch for ‘Song For Europe’ or ‘Do The Strand’ you can see there’s lots more still to come. Also much credit for the ‘remixed’ artwork by Alex Cowper.

Reviewed: Remix #1
A. Angel Eyes (Re-Edit By Frank Tope & Dean Rudland) (7:57)
B. Angel Eyes (Kaos Extended Mix) (9:46)
C. Rain Rain Rain (Tiefschwarz Remix) (8:25)
D. The Thrill Of It All (M.A.N.D.Y vs. Booka Shade Re-Work) (6:46)

Remix#2
A. The Main Thing (Rub-N-Tug Proton Saga) (6:10)
B. Same Old Scene (Glimmers Remix) (6:45)

Remix#3
A. Editions Of You (Phones Mix) (5:31)
B. Virginia Plain (Headman Re-Work) (3:49)

Links:
www.roxymusic.co.uk
www.roxyrama.com [Updated 23rd April 2007]
www.paulepworth.com