Röyksopp “Tricky Tricky” (VALIS FLASH Mix)

I created this within 7 days for the Röyksopp ‘Tricky Tricky’ remix competition. It’s a fairly generic electro-disco type affair and I think it came out reasonably competent for the time spent on it.

I had originally planned to do a dubstep style mix but with time running out quick it actually felt “easier” to go this route. I spent a large chunk of the time editing the sound files the duo provided e.g. applying effects (reverb, delay, some chorus) to Karin’s voice so that it would sound better for the tempo (a good 10bpm or more slower than the original).

I already had the basic template for the instrumental in progress as a space/Balearic disco influenced track titled ‘Valis’ so in a way it was something of a mash-up (quelle surprise) and as a result maybe the vocal doesn’t fit as well as it could if I’d tried to come up with something specifically intended to go with it from the start.

The ‘Valis’ bassline is an arpeggiated eight note sequence that descends and ascends alternately. It comes straight from the MicroKorg (with a little twiddling). To make it smoother I managed to add a square sawtooth that shortens each note to increase the staccato effect. This was quite a last minute addition but it really helped as by that point the track was probably overdone with various effects so there was a need for clearer, shorter focussed events and more ‘foreground’ detail.

Getting the balance right here was tough as I often felt there wasn’t enough to the track as a remix. I did want to keep it fairly simple and create this ‘on/less on’ effect where the verses serve as a calmer phase giving way to the instrumental parts with added hi-hat, bass and further in the lovely synth voice chorus sound from the original (again I chopped this up which I think worked well although may actually be under-used).

So a lot of decisions to make in too little time but it was a fun exercise that I learned from. I think out of over 300 entries mine may be in the middle somewhere and I would settle for that. I would say the louder you play it the better it sounds (well duh) as there is some good (and relatively subtle) bass on this if nothing else (and why have one bassline when you can have two or three on the go?).

I may use Valis Flash (it’s actually a play on the ‘Paris Flash’ magazine title from the Tintin stories) as a name for future remixes so look out for additional efforts on the way if you liked or thought there was good potential in this one.