Shirley Bassey's voice is a diamond. Rich and strong, it's familiar to any Bond film devotee. Worked in to techno remixes of her classic songs, her magnificent chords are not butchered in any way.
The album works because the techno revamps keep her voice and soul in tact and also complement the kitsch factor prevalent in some songs.
Of course, some remixes are more successful than others. AwayTeam's "Where do I begin" inevitably raises the bar for the rest of the album with its quality. Bassey is reunited with the Propellerheads on "Goldfinger". Here they add wa waa waaaa porn guitars and some scratching for desired effect. Fortunately the sexy horns were spared. The Spanish melodrama of "If you go away" blends wonderfully with the frenzied build up of Moloko.
Songs that we have all heard at some point jump out like old friends. "Spinning wheel" and "Big spender" now have some new color. I don't know that three different versions of "Light my fire" were truly necessary—it's a good song and all but really….Personally I prefer the "Lady Mix" by Twelftree. Other Bond classics like "Diamonds are forever" and "Moonraker" also get the royal techno treatment by Mantronik and Superfunk.
Shirley Bassey and techno. All you need is a martini.
Shirley Bassey The Remix Album: Diamonds Are Forever
