Yoko
Ono: Open Your Box
(Astralwerks)
Yoko Ono is having quite a resurgence. Her collaboration record Yes,
I’m a Witch proved to be one of this year’s biggest surprises,
with artists like Spiritualized, Peaches, Cat Power and many others covering
and dueting with her material. Now, a solid remix album with the likes
of Basement Jaxx, Felix Da Housecat, Danny Tenaglia, and Pet Shop Boys
turns Ono into the belle of the disco ball. The last three acts mentioned
all separately take on her best-known song “Walking on Thin Ice;”
Pet Shop Boys and Felix go electro while Tenaglia delivers a nice house
version. Ono’s intensity and outlandishness lend themselves nicely
to the art of the remix.
The remix album is extremely popular right now, but considering that few
listeners are familiar with Ono’s originals, it seems like a more
natural fit to rework songs that few are familiar with in the first place.
The Sapphirecut remix makes “I Don’t Know Why” sound
like some bizarre lost Bonnie Tyler ballad remix from the ’80s.
Yoko and Bonnie should tour together or do a reality show. That would
be awesome!
By Nick Hyman
7/2007