LexiconDon’s upcoming LP, Pink + Blue, is full of the warm summertime sounds and sentiments we’ve all come to love from them. Their first single “December Sunset” is a terrific example of the contemplative, smooth vibe of the album, with its layers creating the perfectly balanced synth pop song capable of standing firmly on its own and also lending itself to an infinite number of intriguing directions for a remix.

LexiconDon – December Sunset (LAZRHWK Remix)

LAZRHWK finds a way to take the latest vibe from LexiconDon one step further by wrapping the strengths of the original track in a blanket of faster grooves, feisty twists and energetic compliments. LAZRHWK tries to build upon “December Sunset” without overpowering it and it does so in spades. A lot of credit goes to Alex Koons’ vocals for being not only malleable, but retaining that chilled-out tone through all of the remixing. This one in particular has a distinctly pacific flavor (my favorite). It’s refreshing and dynamic. Strong songwriting and structuring is important; it allows an artist the freedom to create unique songs of character and still leave the door open for limitless potential in its subsequent interpretations. It’s inspiring to hear how LAZRHWK connected with that possibility and saw it fit to put a fresh, light, fizzing spin on it.

Posted by: Paul

I imagine that like some of you, I’m relatively new to Binary.  I didn’t even know of Keenhouse, Ken Rangkuty, until I heard “Civic Transit” last summer. That being said, it easily made my top 5 originals of 2009 and I’ve been a die hard fan ever since.  After playing his new remix of Housse de Racket’s “Oh Yeah” on repeat all week,  I jumped at the opportunity to review his contribution to our own LexiconDon’s ”December Sunset.”

LexiconDon – December Sunset (Keenhouse Remix)

“December Sunset” feels like a heart wrenching struggle between joy and angst, between hope and despair.  The song’s unique blend of pop influence and meditative sensibility marries dance-ability with listen-ability for one killer dancefloor ballad.

When remixing a track like this one I think you want do two things: let Koons’ vocals shine through and make sure not to stray too far from the original. Why mess with a good thing? The Keenhouse remix is a great example. He mixes in elements reminiscent of steel drums with the brass from the original to give the chorus a twist of island flavor. Think nu disco with a little 311; think cocktail party meets beach party.  If you’re throwing a cocktail party on the beach you should be all set. Ah and of course no Keenhouse track would be complete without breaking down for a minute into synthy jam sesh. I just can’t seem to get tired of those soaring arpeggios or those funky hooks. This is one of his best, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love them all.

Posted by: Evan