Ok, this is the first time we’ve ever featured something on this website that isn’t actually Scandinavian related. But it’s SO worth it. Plus, it sounds more scandipop and schlager than a lot of actual Scandinavian music this year!
Basically, 80′s UK group Tight Fit have reformed and are re-releasing their huge hit ‘Fantasy Island’. The genius remix team Almighty, have been brought in to produce a brand new version, and it’s intensely exciting! Tinkly pianos, infectious synth riffs, and a chorus that sounds like it’s actually being sung by Agnetha and Frida. Our jaw was dramatically dropped for most of the duration of our first listen to this. It’s mega! And it’s something that’s going to appeal to all schlager fans, we think.
It’s like Abba have finally met Steps and gone out clubbing together at scandipop!
While we’re on the subject of Almighty, and perhaps to bring some genuine scandipop into this post, here’s their cover version of Ankie Bagger’s monster 80′s hit ‘Where Were You Last Night’, from a couple of years ago. This song seriously needs to be covered again and made a hit in the UK. It saddens us to think that so few Brits are aware of this amazing song’s existence!
‘Tickles’, the new single from Elin Lanto, has been given the remix treatment by one of our favourite remixers of all time – Almighty. We loved the song in its original form anyway, but as you’d expect, Almighty have taken it and crafted it into a club anthem tailored specifically for a Saturday night dancefloor. One might argue that that’s what all remixes are supposed to do, but let’s face it, a lot of remixes of pop songs try to wander into ‘cool’ territory’ a bit too far, and end up extinguishing any pop joy that existed in the track. The Almighty remix of ‘Tickles’ does the opposite. It takes the infectious melody and the riff, and accentuates them to the point of camp euphoria. And just to make it clear from the very start what kind of song this is, they’ve named it the ”Almighty hands in the air mix”! Brilliant!
The package of ‘Tickles’ along with this new Almighty mix is probably Elin’s best chance so far, of having some UK success. Right now in the UK, Elin’s ‘Love Made Me Stupid’ is being released (hooray!) on AATW (no sighing at the back please!), and hopefully it’ll have some sort of success. But regardless of how it goes, we really do think that a UK label should pick up ‘Tickles’. It’s just got that special something.
Meanwhile back in Sweden, the video should be premiering some time soon. She shot it on Monday, and here is a behind the scenes look at the shoot;
Lately a very welcome name has been popping back up on the UK commercial club scene – Almighty! Them of legendary remixing status. No pop single worth its salt in the late nineties and early noughties was released without an Almighty remix. They camped up everything they put their name to, and made everything from pop, rock, r&b and ballads, into dancefloor friendly, sugary club music. They disappeared for a good few years but have recently appeared on promo singles for Crazy Loop (an amazing Europop song that’s getting a release in the UK next month here) Mica Paris, and the forthcoming Agnes single, ‘I Need You Now’.
And now they’ve worked some magic with their old friends Alcazar! They’ve previously remixed ‘This Is The World We Live In’, ‘Sexual Guarantee’, and ‘Don’t You Want Me’, and have now done some remixes for ‘Burning’s UK release. Thankfully they haven’t changed their style in the slightest, and it sounds exactly as you’d expect and indeed want an Almighty remix to sound – bloody good! It gives the track that extra backing of bass and beat, speeds it up a tad, and helps it force itself into people’s heads that little bit easier. And let’s face it, people NEED Alcazar in their heads! ‘Burning’ is pretty much perfect as it is, but this remix should make it fit into a wider variety of DJ’s sets a bit better. And of course we’ll be playing it at scandipop live next Tuesday.
Annikafiore goes through her Alcazar wardrobe in her blog at http://www.annikafiore.com Nice to hear she has fond memories of her time with them. - posted on 10/09/2010 14:08:28
