Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Aptly titled The Remix Game, the latest release from West Hollywood duo (singer Shana Halligan and producer Kiran Shahani) is an outstanding compilation mix CD of their debut album, The Mating Game.  While featuring various DJ’s and producers, The Remix Game stays true to the original album’s sexy, sultry vibe yet ads a new dimension to the intriguing and refreshing mix of electronic pop, jazz and lounge music.

 

The tactful remixes enhance an already interesting mix with some of the best songs on The Mating Game providing for some of the best remixes.  Thievery Corporation adds their signature sound to Bittersweet Faith ditching some of the smoothness for a danceable beat, Yes King does a jazzier, big-band remix of The Mating Game, and Skeewiff has completely revamped Dirty Laundry with a more industrial rock sound, replacing tense pizzicato with a synth guitar beat. 

 

Other sounds you’ll hear on the album include: instrumental interludes on Overdue, which prove that setting the mood is a big part of Bitter: Sweet’s music, an R&B style and beat on Our Remains, and some bluesy lyrics for the fittingly christened Moody.

 

Collectively, the remixed tracks make for a great stand-alone album on par with Bitter: Sweet’s original release.  Deciding which version you like better is the hard part, as both are amazing works and some of the best new music I’ve heard in a while.

 

With such a refreshing sound it’s no wonder their music has been featured on countless TV shows from Grey’s Anatomy to Entourage! and would work just as well in a Bond film with its slinky ’60s spy movie feel.