Artist: Morel
Title: Funny Car (Remixes)
Label: Yoshitoshi Recordings
By: Chad Harnish | 4 June 2002
Tracklist:

• A1: Hydrogen Rockers Vocal
• B1: Hybrigen Rockers Dub
• C1: Pappa & Gilby Vocal
• D1: Pappa & Gilby Dub

Morel "Funny Car (Remixes)"

Morel’s ‘Funny Car’ is wheeling back around for another spin across dance floors everywhere with a whole new sound on Yoshitoshi. For this double pack of remixes, audiences will be treated to the remix talents of Choo Choo’s Pappa & Gilby and Hydrogen Rockers (also known as Dirty Vegas whose hit “Days Go By” has graced the recent Mitsubishi television spots).

With early techno sounding acid blips and a descending bass line, the Hydrogen Rockers introduce their interpretation of Morel’s hit ‘Funny Car’. Three minutes into the affair, they slowly begin to bring in the lyrics with a restrained approach and two minutes later deliver it in full force. They give the track an overall fresh take on the original which results in more of a dance floor sound but still manage to capture the soulful touch that Morel is so adept at creating. The dub remix is not entirely stripped of the vocals as one might expect rather they stitch it in to accent parts of the song helping to add a bit of punch in just the right places. Hydrogen Rockers have delivered a great remix here with their blend of ambience, percussion, and light airiness making it a great set opener.

Cruising along into late night dance floor territory, Papa & Gilby drive ‘Funny Car’ to depths in which it has not been before. Tight bongo drums coupled with the strong, brawny kick drum supply audiences with the enough fuel to boogie on full swing. Swirls of ambience meld together with the echoed vocal “cover your head because there’s no survivors, love is dead, no one realizes” creating a magical impression. Think Quivver meets Mara. Towards the end of this cut things really start to get beautiful as the track builds around the vocal and the melody truly shines through. Pappa & Gilby have truly impressed me with this remix.

With the original mix of Funny Car getting the respect it deserves on Billboard’s dance chart, currently holding the number eight position, one can only expect that these mixes will also stir up a great reaction. When dance floors recognize the subtle vocal tweakings by both sets of remixers, it will surely cause a surge of excitement.

Be sure to check out Morel's full length "Queen of the Highway" out now on Yoshitoshi.