Calling all stations
loteq | Regensburg | 12/06/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"One thing I like about Chicane is that they're not just another faceless dance-pop outfit. Working with such different singers as Clannad's Maire Brennan and Bryan Adams, Chicane make clear that ambitious vocals can blend menacingly well with melodic mid-tempo dance tracks, and their best talents may lie in bringing the listener's romantic dreams and ancient memories into focus. Musically, there are no surprises on "Autumn tactics" - it steers strictly the same melodic and structural course Chicane have been following since their first two European smash hits in 1997, "Offshore" and "Sunstroke". Certainly, Chicane have an obvious style and wouldn't have so much commercial success if they challenged their audience. But it's impossible to resist the gentle, disarming charm of singer Justine Suissa, whose voice sounds like a cross between Suzanne Vega and EBTG's Tracey Thorn. She proves to be in perfect sync with fragile sequencers and softly floating melodies in the background, completing the picture with regret-tinged vocals and a refrain which leaves a lasting impression. As great as the radio mix of this song is, the fact remains that it's much too short, and so there will be people who really welcome the three other mixes on this 23 1/2-minute EP. Chicane's own "End of summer mix" (8:44) begins with tribal drumming and Mediterranean guitar lines before it alternates verse/refrain and extended instrumental sections. Next, we have the 7 1/2-minute "Thrillseeker remix", a somewhat more engaging number which provides more aggressive dance beats. It does, however, also feature some additional keyboard melodies and manages to sound painfully beautiful and atmospheric at times. The album version of "Autumn tactics" pales a bit next to the previous remixes, it's just a little too laid-back and seems somehow unfinished. So, is this CD-single worth buying if you already own the accompanying album? Well, if you're a fan of dance mixes, it will appeal to you. As with the rest of Chicane's CD-singles, however, there's nothing particularly exciting to discover here. Anyway, you won't be disappointed."
The message got lost...
Aaron Dodson | Riverside, California | 06/18/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"These remixes of Chicane's much loved song from his "Behind the Sun" album leave something to be desired. Released several months after the album, this single does NOT contain the album version of the song, but rather offers up three remixes of the song. Track 1 is exactly what it says... a Radio Edit, but a Radio Edit of Track 2 which is Chicane's own re-interpretation of his original song.
Track 2 is quite a surprising choice for Chicane. Make no mistake; the production value is vintage Chicane and no one can dispute the programming skills of the master trance artist. But the song is barely recognizable without the original's signature bouncing synth bassline and sparse, drawn-out soundscape... replaced instead with plenty of Spanish guitar and percussion that transform the song into a strange medley of festive instrumentation that simply doesn't mesh as well with Justine Suissa's melancholy and hauntingly beautiful vocals. The song is an interesting re-imagining by Chicane, but most will find the original much more palatable.
The Thrillseekers Remix is a much more club-friendly mix of the song...which IS saying something, considering the original was no club track at all! The subtle pads and bass that made the original so compelling are gone, replaced with arpeggiating synths and thin pads that simply serve to make this more of a cookie-cutter club track. However, the mix succeeds greatly in capturing some of the atmosphere and ambience that Chicane is famous for.
There is no harm done, but it doesn't do much in the sense of musical exploration of the original theme. But suffice it to say this may be the first time that an artist had a better mix of the original than the artist's remix.
Once again, the production values are sound, it's the soul and originality of the song that is missing.
Listening to this CD lends a lot of respect to the choices an artist and a producer must make when cutting tracks to an album...and I can only wonder if Chicane's End of Summer Remix may have once been the intended album cut of this song.
Without the original cut on this album, this single will gather dust on most shelves."
Track Listings (3) - Disc #1