One Track Mind

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When I saw that Juan Maclean had remixed Sneaky Sound System, I decided to give the Australian trio a listen… only to realize that I already knew the original version of “When We Were Young” so well that I was singing along. A shade embarrassing, perhaps, but nonetheless a testament to how much success the act has had lately, topping the Aussie charts and getting worked and re-worked into many a DJ mix.

Given the house tradition for club-friendly, extended mixes, it isn’t a surprise that the Juan Maclean remix clocks in at just under eight and a half minutes; however, it would definitely benefit from leaving two or three minutes on the chopping block. Fans of the remixers will easily pluck out some of the added elements, like those telltale drum fills and the general percussive sensibilities the band shares with their DFA cohorts. Still, the Juan Maclean shows a generous reverence for the original, especially in regard to that gigantic chorus as well as Miss Connie’s vocals, which are the track’s most defining characteristic.

Even if it could stand to shed a few pounds, this remix should get receive a lot of plays for fans of the genre who will especially love the stacked layers toward the end, lazers blazing. A great original with a good remix.