Watched it a few times now, and I really quite like the sound, (though TBH whether I personally need ‘another version’ of
Underpass to shadow in the background the perfection of the original, or indeed for it to be in the foreground such as with the recent release of Mark’s 2010 mix, is still something of a non-starter for me).
I accept that with these remixes there are good arguments for the spreading of wider appeal, but should we maybe have just re-released the original song, with new packaging, and renewed vigour for this anniversary. It was a defining moment in John’s art in 1980, perhaps we shouldn’t be redefining
Underpass via a remix, but rather re-distinguish it at source by putting it out there and drawing attention to the originality of its concept.
Leaving
Underpass ’80 to rest in the stables for the mo’, and focusing on Marks remixes, of the two so far on show, the
Dark and Long Sinister mix is a good one, the dance/trance lead-in creating a longer journey is very smoothly done, and the building up of a wider perimeter around the main song is all the sweeter when the innately recognisable line
”Standing in the dark” kicks in. I really prefer this mix to that of Marks 2010 one, I like the mini-epic feel that it hints at, and if only it could have been a lot more over the top, its enjoyable, but its very laid-back.
As for the video, it starts off okay, but it soon becomes obvious that its impossible to pad out the longer length, just how many times do these head shots of John keep getting repeated, though I do like that one of him in profile as he tilts his head up to look at the sky, great haircut, I still dream of having hair like that, oh well, perhaps one day, in Metatronic Heaven...
As this is one of a few remixes to come I suppose its understandable that few new visual material is going to be shot to accompany the music and the old stuff is going to be reworked for all its worth, and I know John's not to blame for this next groan, but,
aaaaaaargh!!!, will we ever get to leave those pyjama wearing shopping trolley kids behind? (and why on earth does that boy look like hes not wearing any pants - it's this sort of naff thing that doesn't help when people pun the title of the song). Surely its long past those kids tea-time, well, its 30 years now, somebody must have noticed them missing, and didn’t David Sylvian dedicate a song to them on his Blemish album, oh well, its just another unsolved crime - these scenes still being kept in any
Underpass video - and one things for sure, those kids didn’t go shopping at Tesco:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8484116.stm
