New Order – Jetstream

Isn't it funny how the worst track on an album is often the most malleable in the hands of remixers?

The Jacques Lu Cont remix is by far the best, taking only the bones of Jetstream. Which is odd considering he co-produced the album version under his other name; Stuart Price. He loops a few vocal lines over an up-tempo beat and a daft keyboard line.

Richard X's take is a simpler affair. He extends the intro and adds lots of reverb to everything, but otherwise leaves the original mix alone. A small improvement though nothing compared to his Bizarre Love Triangle remix.

Tom Neville, on the other hand cuts almost everything back except the vocal. Sumner's voice is dropped a semitone or two, he adds a slow stomping beat, and sprinkles over some lovely bleeping noises. This one is the closest anyone gets to making Jetstream into the "sexy song" it was envisioned as.

Long time NO collaborator Arthur Baker, like Richard X, keeps it recognisable. He replaces most of the keyboard lines with a distinctive riff. It's the most laid back of the four mixes and the most forgettable.

Finally, for anyone who has forgotten what it's supposed to sound like, the album version turns up. It's so-so and according to Stephen Morris begun by him as a bit of joke. The song has it's charms though, a nice guitar-break plus Ana Matronic sounds more at ease with the attempted sexy groove than Sumner. Lyrically it recalls Electronic's Until the End of the Time as both have clumsy lyrics like "you're my jetstream lover" or "you're driving me crazy oh baby". For my money Barney has only ever managed to sound sexy on Spooky from 1993.

Still, five songs is not bad value for a CD. All are a whole lot better than the remixes produced for the Krafty CD. Those mixes managed to drain the life from the song's nifty and driving cut-up keyboard hook.