Diaspora Remixed

The remix is a door that opens on the infinite. The only limitation is the imagination of the remixer. The original song is relevant only as a skeleton on which to hang new flesh and clothes, which can take any form. The four versions of "Goumari" here serve as a prime example. EarthRise Sound System funk the piece up a little, while Shazalakazoo veer it a tiny bit more toward rock, and DJ Click, while putting more guitar in there, transforms it into a dance tune that goes tribal, and Spark keeps the African mystery over dancefloor drums and fractured guitar. All perfectly valid interpretations, and all good. What satisfies most is up to the listener, although Balkan Express Soundsistema's take on "Tchiribim" works superbly in its heavy Balkanization of the tune. If you liked the original, then you might like this; the same applies if you didn't care for the Watcha Clan CD. Either way, it's an interesting -- and instructive -- listen. ~ Chris Nickson