New Wave Outpost Forum

Anyone into Australian electronic/synthpop band Boxcar ("Freemason (You Broke The Promise)", "Insect", "Gas Stop (Who Do You Think You Are)", "Hit & Run" etc.) may be interested to know David Smith has resurrected the band and released new remix singles for "Insect" in December and "Hit & Run" in March. They are both available as digital downloads on the usual online retailers but I found FLAC options on 7digital and Tidal and WAV/AIFF options at Junodownload and Beatport (though I didn't see "Hit & Run" on Beatport).

The new mixes are excellent, as all of their previous output has been from the late 80's through the mid-90's. Plus each release includes gorgeously remastered versions of the original versions! I bought the AIFF formats from Junodownload and am loving 'em.

I just happened to check their website (boxcar.com.au) this morning and, while it's being updated soon, there WAS an add for the new singles. Yay, it's a good day!

Fred Taghon wrote:
The new mixes are excellent, as all of their previous output has been from the late 80's through the mid-90's. Plus each release includes gorgeously remastered versions of the original versions! I bought the AIFF formats from Junodownload and am loving 'em.

thanks for the heads up.

i'm a huge fan of the band, and was looking forward to these.

my opinions:
-------------------------------------
insect - the new mixes are terrible, the first mix is way too short, and the 2 dubs don't add anything to the song at all.
the original mixes are the best, so avoid the new ones.
------------
1 Insect (Max Wolf vs. Boxcar Remix) 4:13 - starts off decent, but is way too short to improve on
3 Insect (Tunnel Signs Classic Bass Dub) 6:46 - boring instrumental
4 Insect (Tunnel Signs & Johannes Klingebiel Dub) 6:25 - boring dub


hit and run - not a very good single to begin with, and the house mixes aren't that great either.

the new mixes are also very tired sounding, and again just basic house sounding mixes compared to the great original mixes by robert racic:
---------------------------
1 Hit & Run (Marc Tasio Extended Remix) 7:13 - another slow house mix
2 Hit & Run (Nonion Breed Remix) 5:38 - very slow house mix, with some electro bleeps added to it
5 Hit & Run (Marc Tasio Radio Edit) 3:37 - short version of the midtempo mix, actually ok because its so short
6 Hit & Run (Boxcar vs. Marc Tasio Back2Detroit Dub) 6:53 - midtempo instrumental dub

so all in all, no improvements, and worse sounding remixes

avoid the new ones, and stick with the originals.

later
-1

negative1 wrote:

Fred Taghon wrote:
The new mixes are excellent, as all of their previous output has been from the late 80's through the mid-90's. Plus each release includes gorgeously remastered versions of the original versions! I bought the AIFF formats from Junodownload and am loving 'em.

thanks for the heads up.

i'm a huge fan of the band, and was looking forward to these.

my opinions:
-------------------------------------
insect - the new mixes are terrible, the first mix is way too short, and the 2 dubs don't add anything to the song at all.
the original mixes are the best, so avoid the new ones.
------------
1 Insect (Max Wolf vs. Boxcar Remix) 4:13 - starts off decent, but is way too short to improve on
3 Insect (Tunnel Signs Classic Bass Dub) 6:46 - boring instrumental
4 Insect (Tunnel Signs & Johannes Klingebiel Dub) 6:25 - boring dub


hit and run - not a very good single to begin with, and the house mixes aren't that great either.

the new mixes are also very tired sounding, and again just basic house sounding mixes compared to the great original mixes by robert racic:
---------------------------
1 Hit & Run (Marc Tasio Extended Remix) 7:13 - another slow house mix
2 Hit & Run (Nonion Breed Remix) 5:38 - very slow house mix, with some electro bleeps added to it
5 Hit & Run (Marc Tasio Radio Edit) 3:37 - short version of the midtempo mix, actually ok because its so short
6 Hit & Run (Boxcar vs. Marc Tasio Back2Detroit Dub) 6:53 - midtempo instrumental dub

so all in all, no improvements, and worse sounding remixes

avoid the new ones, and stick with the originals.

later
-1

I had a MUCH different reaction to the new remixes, but I respect your opinion. I still definitely prefer the original versions and their 80's/90's remixes but as someone who also enjoys current dance/house, I really dig the new mixes. But yes, they may be too "housey" for some.

It's funny you didn't like the original "Hit & Run" - it's actually one of my favorite Boxcar tracks hehe.

I've listened to the remasters of the original mixes included on these new digital downloads and compared them to the '89-'92 CD's. While the original CD's still have amazing production, the new remasters somehow breathe fresh life into those tracks - they just sound amazing to my ears.

Boxcar's SoundCloud page https://soundcloud.com/box-car has an unreleased 1990/91 12" Version (6:57) of the "Vertigo" title track which is excellent. Hoping it will be given an official release of some kind in the future.

I check the Boxcar website every few months and a while back he was talking about remastering the "Vertigo" and "Algorhythm" albums and offering deluxe versions. If the remasters of the original "Insect" and "Hit & Run" mixes are any indication, I will happily pick up the remastered albums if/when they materialize.

The soundcloud page is awesome, there's tons of great stuff that i never heard about there.

thanks for checking up on them.

later
-1

Never heard of them but glad to check them out. I don't pay for DLs or SC, but will find them free somewhere. Glad to be introduced to a band I've never heard of!

Boxcar released new 2018 remixes of "Comet" on June 1st. You can get them here in WAV/AIFF/FLAC/MP3:
https://www.junodownload.com/products/b ... 777804-02/

I continue to really enjoy the new remixes offered up in these Boxcar digital EP's, and the classic extended version (superbly remastered) once again sounds incredible. Of the three new remixes of "Comet", I'd have to say the Valley Forge Rework is my favorite. The Tronik Youth Remix is quite good as well but the Valley Forge Rework really hit the mark for me. Lots of the original production elements integrated nicely with the new stuff. The Francis Xavier Remix is decent, and will likely grow on me, but it's a bit more on the trance-y side. Three distinctly different takes on what was originally just a really cool B-Side track in 1988.

Loving so much newly remixed (and remastered) stuff from Boxcar in such a short span of time! With all the activity, I wouldn't be surprised to see "Vertigo" and/or "Revision" finally appear in their long-promised deluxe versions!?!?

I'm watching for those Deluxe Editions too.

Fred Taghon wrote:Boxcar released new 2018 remixes of "Comet" on June 1st. You can get them here in WAV/AIFF/FLAC/MP3:
https://www.junodownload.com/products/b ... 777804-02/

I continue to really enjoy the new remixes offered up in these Boxcar digital EP's, and the classic extended version (superbly remastered) once again sounds incredible. Of the three new remixes of "Comet", I'd have to say the Valley Forge Rework is my favorite. The Tronik Youth Remix is quite good as well but the Valley Forge Rework really hit the mark for me. Lots of the original production elements integrated nicely with the new stuff. The Francis Xavier Remix is decent, and will likely grow on me, but it's a bit more on the trance-y side. Three distinctly different takes on what was originally just a really cool B-Side track in 1988.

Loving so much newly remixed (and remastered) stuff from Boxcar in such a short span of time! With all the activity, I wouldn't be surprised to see "Vertigo" and/or "Revision" finally appear in their long-promised deluxe versions!?!?

Again, another release worth skipping. Comet wasn't that great originally, and now more instrumental remixes?

maybe if they redid boxcar, that would be a lot more interesting.

later
-1

Hi Dave from Boxcar here, thanks Fred Taghon, means a lot to have a genuine supporter here.