Cashmere Cat - Mirror Maru (Melvv Bootleg)

It takes a brave man to remix a much-loved track from a few years ago, and to try to bring something new to the table after all this time. Step forward Melvv, an American producer who's sought to do just that with his take on Cashmere Cat's Mirror Maru. We're a bit late on this one, but a few weeks ago Melvv released his own bootleg of one of the breakout tracks of 2012.



The original was hailed for being something new and fresh, with its chilled orchestral take on Trap. Can Melvv succeed in creating a remix that not only does the popular original justice, but also manages to say something for itself? Find out below.

Wisely, Melvv, real name Jeffrey Melvin, has decided to use the strengths of the original whilst creating his bootleg. In fact, it primarily only uses samples from it. The chord sequences, and even the general laid-back feel of the track, also echo the original in many ways. But it's no longer trap - it's a four to the floor house number.

Jeffrey uses samples from the original to devastating effect. The piano intro is no longer the smooth, svelte opening it was, with the chords far more glitchy and unnatural. What follows this is a flurry of chopped up samples of harp glissandos, vocals and other dreamy effects. It feels incredibly well constructed and put together, but at the same time, you have a sort of feeling that it could fall off at any minute - surely the rapidly triggered samples can't keep up with the beat, surely it'll all get out of time and fall apart? But the beauty of Melvv's bootleg is that it never does, as it is meticulously thought out and crafted, and very clever.

It's glitchy and slightly frantic, but it always manages to stay chilled, too. You feel like you're in safe hands. And the Trap of the original can also be felt in Melvv's take, as he cleverly halves the tempo when the main hook comes back later in the track.

By essentially reconstructing the original at a different tempo, by using parts of the original, but slicing them up and using them differently, Melvv has managed to do exactly what I outlined to begin with - he's taken a much-loved track, and also brought something new to the table. And all the while, he's managed to retain what we loved about Mirror Maru in the first place. Make sure you grab your copy for free.

The Octopus' Rating: 6.5/8

Release Details:

Name: Mirror Maru (Melvv Bootleg)
Artists: Cashmere Cat, Melvv (Remixer)
Label: N/A
Release Date: 26 August [OUT NOW]
Purchase: Free Download

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Alex Simpson

Writer, musician, and all-round top guy. I set up Excited Octopus. Currently, I'm on a one man team. It gets lonely sometimes. But I don't mind, because I love you all.

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