M - Pop Muzik

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 8 / 10 / 2009

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Review

M was the brainchild of Robin Scott, who went to Croydon Art College with Malcolm McLaren, and Sex Pistols artist Jamie Reid. He produced early singles for the Slits, and Stiff records as well as forming 70’s label Do-It Records which released the debut Adam and the Ants album, ‘Dirk Wears White Sox’. He now spends time, running Carbon Zero Muzik which is a carbon management company raising awareness of climate change and supplying energy efficient technologies to communities in Kenya. M are only really known for one song, ‘Pop Muzik’, which came out originally in 1979. It was a total pop anthem and released at a time when ‘Top of the Pops’ and the charts were full of new wave records. The 12 inch version of ‘Pop Muzik’ was double grooved and it also had a ground breaking video as well. Thirteen mixes grace this album which has been released to celebrate i's 30th anniversary. The original opens the album and has lost none of its charm. This is what decent pop music should sound like. It is poppy, makes you want to smile and dance to it. The 1989 remix sounds of its time. I am not a fan of remixes of this era but it has enough of the original to just about save it. The Rob Quickenden remix is far too fast, but because of this it works in a strange sort of way. The 78 demo is the original stripped down home demo. It has more of a slow pub anthem feel. Lyrically it is in its infancy, but is still complete. The Dub Pistols’ radio edit, is very house-orientated, aimed at a club crowd, and any resemblance it has to the original is only added in as an afterthought. A second remix here by them, which has been commissioned by U2, starts as a loop, but then eventually becomes more rave-orientated. Junior Vasquez’s remix again was commissioned by U2. It sounds absolutely massive and is very much a house number with its beat driven grooves, but is somewhat dated and goes on far too long. The Sunshine State remix, is an acid house over-the-top version that needs a chill out pill. Its happy house sound made me feel sick just listening to it, and, while only lasting 3mins 49 seconds, it sounds like it lasts forever. The Olmec Heads remix completely loses the song. It is a house number with repetitive drum beats and just stinks of remix hell to me. The tenth track is a decent cover of the song by Rhumba Calzada who adds a touch of calypso. It is huge fun. The Steve Osborne/U2 remix was used as the opening number for U2 Pop Mart tour in 1996. It is very fast, repetitive, but maintains some of the original song, Devo with their own remix manage to keep the song intact, while their second remix of the album with MM is sung through a distorter and has a slow rave feel to it. ‘Pop Music’ was a fine track when it first came out, but only a few of these remixes add magic to the masterful original.

Track Listing:-

1 Pop Muzik (Original)
2 Pop Muzik (1989 Remix)
3 Pop Muzik (Rob Quickenden Remix)
4 Pop Muzik ('78 Demo)
5 Pop Muzik (Dub Pistols Radio Edit)
6 Pop Muzik (Dub Pistols/U2 Remix)
7 Pop Muzik (Junior Vasquez/U2 Remix)
8 Pop Muzik (Sunshine State Remix)
9 Pop Muzik (Olmec Heads Remix)
10 Pop Muzik (Rhumba Calzada Remix)
11 Pop Muzik (Steve Osbourne/U2 Remix)
12 Pop Muzik (Devo Remix)
13 Pop Muzik (Darkside/MM Devo Remix)