Andy
Bell – Variance II (The Torsten The Beautiful Libertine Remixes) (SFE)
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Andy Bell returns once more in the latest of
the Torsten series.
The semi-immortal polysexual character
portrayed by Andy Bell once more receives the remix treatment in the form of
Variance II. Split into two parts it
contains some completely new and unused recordings from the original Torsten
The Beautiful Libertine album and works successfully as an album in its own
right.
Beginning with the Senseless Symphony it isn’t
one for the easily offended. Graphic
recounts of sexual wanting begin almost from the opening notes in the seven
track, continuous play with excerpts from the main album and brand new additions. It’s a highly experimental medley at times
certainly with the closing section That Judas Kiss which features an almost
robotic sounding Bell in spoken word and some high-energy moments as well as a
jazz tinged Extracurricular Affirmation.
Part Two of the album sees 9 remixes from
varying names some better known than others but all on an equal footing. First single lifted from Torsten The
Beautiful Libertine, the radio friendly My Precious One is a lesson in poppy
and commercial songwriting from the Torsten team of Barney Ashton and
Christopher Frost with the addition of Mike Allison. The track is represented in three versions -
by Hulda from the Faroe Islands music scene, Vince Clarke and an Extended Semi
Acoustic Version. The former bases itself around a near instrumental version
with parts of the chorus inserted and treated adding to the overall
effect. Vince Clarke obviously needs no introduction
and seems to make his version sound like an Erasure track, his undoubted pop
genius brimming over with a keen ear for a great tune and a dance club style is
the final result. The final version
strips back the track to its bare bones of piano and strings and takes a highly
emotive mix to a new level.
The duet with transsexual Lana Pillay on
Queercore (the recent single release) sees the pair in a bitchy exchange of
slagging off which is often hilarious with some clever wordplay and incisive comment. Lana will be a face familiar to many whether
it be as drag artist, vocalist of Gary Clail’s brilliant 1991 hit Human Nature
or as part of the Comic Strip Presents team in several episodes. It is the comedy appearances in both genders
that attract the line “and does the Comic Strip Presents still pay your rent
for those few times that you did appear” as one of the many in a two way ‘bitch
de force’, and Lana’s line “did you expect to find a Pistol In My Pocket”
cleverly references her 1986 Australian and New Zealand hit from the mid-80s. Both versions here are from Matt Pop with a
Club Remix and Radio Mix.
Photos Of Daniel remixed by Analog Noro (aka
Jan Rasmussen) is a spaced out synth gush and The Slums We Loved is bravely
attended to by Thunderpuss member Barry Harris who’s CV includes work with the
likes of Mary J Blige, Whitney Houston and Justin Bieber.
Bell’s collaborators on his I-Pop album,
Shelter, turn We Were Singing Along To Liza into a synth dance remix with
high-energy basslines and added musical riffs, and Beautiful Libertine is given
the House treatment by American DJ Joe Gauthreaux over a near eight minute
celebration.
Links
SFE Records
Andy Bell website
Andy Bell on Twitter
Andy Bell on Facebook
Saint Torsten website
Saint Torsten on Twitter
Saint Torsten on Facebook
Andy Bell on hiapop Blog
Published on Louder Than War 25/07/26 - here
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