Various Artists Verve Remixed Christmas LP Some artists considered certain artists work to be 'sacred' and not to be sampled. This type of thinking cannot be found here. This album consists of interpretations of 'festive' / winter songs by now legendary artists such as Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. Some butcher the original song / hymn down to a 2 word hook (remixer: Brazilian Girls) and some don't really seem to have added much musically to the original it seems (e.g. remixer: The Heavy). The Orb mix of Louis Armstrong's 'Wonderful World' (not an Xmas / winter song is it?) must have taken them about 20 minutes but is still a highlight for me. Another highlight is the pristine minimal techno pop of the Christian Prommer (Truby Trio, Fauna Flash) remix of Shirley Horn’s “Winter Wonderland”. Hippety Hop headz may enjoy the contributions of Oh No and Wax Tailor. A different album to enjoy mince pies and mulled wine to from the (hip hop) music industry near-monopolists Universal Records . - Chris Byrne © ukhh.com 1999 - 2009