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Artist: Effacer

Track: Maersk

Remix: Takahama Port Remix by Autistici

How did this remix come about? Did you approach the band or did they approach you?

Effacer had just released his self titled self released debut EP. I was really struck by the sounds he had brought together within his compositions. Electronic and acoustic sound sources merging, metamorphosing and playing off each other. I approached Effacer to remix Maersk> For me it was a chance to submerge myself deeper in the material - to play with it - to create and to develop a homage to his original work.

What did you work from? A mixed track, individual files? How did the band get the material to you?

Effacer uploaded sound files onto my server with individual stems (tracks) and sound sources on it.

Did the material present any special technical challenges? (A tough meter to work with, unusual material, etc)

Maersk as a track hovers - it has sections containing rhythmic elements and sections of ambient form. At first I was stuck trying to work out what bpm it had been written in - this information was lost to me when I decided to pitch up elements of the tracks. I learnt to work with the audio sounds using my ear and not to rely on tempo markers within my sequencer.

Can you describe your working process? Do you approach a remix differently from the way you approach your own work?

Usually a remix is easier to complete than an original track as there is already a wealth of material from which to begin. I usually start by working with an element of the track that I find particularly fascinating. Usually this element is something that catches my ear and imagination and evokes a response within me. I will proceed by seeing what else the element can "do" by redesigning the sound in soundforge. Pitch, reversal, filtering, distorting or amplifying the sound bring about new ways of exhibiting the sound element. From this point it is a question of creating a narrative that examines the original material from a new of interesting angle bringing out the aspects of it that particularly interest me. I usually look to dynamically build a track then allow it to decay into a ambient/microsound middle section with a redevelopment and a final decomposition bringing the track to an end.

Whose remix work has you really excited recently?

A group of my favourite artists from the em411 community have recently remixed the latest album by adc bicycle. Works by umami, allthatfall, albatrocity, effacer, zanf, hecanjog, the amazing rolo, map~map, chimplogic, the oo-ray and myself are included. The album is due for release on 12rec soon. The remarkable thing about this project is the fact that adc bicycle has chosen to have his album remixed and release the remix album but not the original!

What do you think makes a remix successful? What do you think makes one fall flat?

For me a good remix explores the track from a new angle and exposes aspects of the original that were more subtlety placed. It is a chance to present the same material in a new light - to recontextualise it and to add some of the personality of the remixer to the material thus creating a hybrid form. I tend to find remixes that are too close to the original disappointing.

Do you remember the first time you heard the term "remix" and what context you heard it in?

Dub was the first time I encountered the idea of the remix with Bunny Lee's remixes of King Tubby's work from the mid 1970's. These are great reworkings - with the original beats and bass being recontextualised and brought to the fore alongside mind boggling vocal delay's and snare hits.

When did you do your first remix?

My remix of Maersk was my first remix.

Download Autistici's remix of Maersk by Effacer
Download the original Maersk by Effacer