One of my favourtie Summer tunes was, without doubt, Diplo’s remix of California Soul (Marlena Shaw – California Soul (Diplo’s Mad Decent Remix)). It was a simple and delicate remix that retained the original’s uplifting piano chords, rising strings and soulful vocals. He retains the alluring chorus, loops it, while weaving in high-hat claps and deep bass to forge a beautifully melodic build up. It ‘ll raise the spirits of even the grumpiest bastard.
Diplo’s been churning out original and remix material at a terrific rate – and his tunes have been 
a permanet fixation on the (…I’m just going to use this term, restrain yourself from cringing or shuddering…) blogosphere. Recently he’s remixed Black Ghosts, Radiohead, Spoon, Kanye West, RGZ and produced tonnes of dirty, crunky bootlegs. His real stamp on dace music is his contribution to Baile Funk (an estranged cousin to the Miami Bass genre; think Bonde Do Role-esque, Brazilian-type beats) , and importing it to the British and American DJ scenes. He recently finished a documentary ‘Favela On Blast’ – a detailed look at Baile Funk. But I most enjoy the touches he gives to the older classics, like the beatufiul Marlena Soulw remix mentioned above, or his baltimore take on The Beatles.
So his latest re-invention of an old classic comes in the form of a Pixies rework. It sounds absolutely nothing like the original Pixies’ ‘Hey’ – the original’s vocals are long gone, replaced by female indie-cindy vocals, repeating only one line from the original: “Hey/ There Must Be A Devil Between Us”. It possesses a bouncy, low-key beat, strung alongside a twanging acoustic guitar, dropping into a spluttering, charming bassline. Genius really, since it doesn’t resemble the original at all.
The Pixies – Hey (Diplo’s Devil Remix) [pelski highly recommends]
Diplo’s label Mad Decent is proving a real force in dance music, with solid releases from the likes Boy 8-bit, Crookers, Bonde De Role, DJ Sega, South Rakkas Crew and DJ Blaqstarr.
Here’s a little bonus;: a stuttery, blippy remix of Feist. Strangely enchanting:
Feist – I Feel It All (Diplo Remix) [pelski highly recommends]
