The Family Jewels EP
Marina & The Diamonds
If you got the ‘80s drunk and let it throw up rainbows all over raverish Happy Hardcore, you’d have the Flex’d Rework of “I Am Not a Robot,” the lead single from the American debut of Brit artist Marina Diamandis, otherwise known as Marina & The Diamonds. Remixed by American electronic act Passion Pit, “Robot” is the perfect example of novelty pop conventions cleverly converted into intimate metaphoric devices, and proof that an artist can achieve mainstream appeal while maintaining artistic integrity. Marina’s voice is both frail and fearless, tiptoeing between twinkling notes while running forward at a furious pace, and works equally well in both included remixes of “Robot.” The Flex’d Rework by Passion Pit is the most immediately accessible, with exuberant, Soundboy Rock-era Groove Armada-style keyboards and endless video game-sounding crescendos and diminuendos. The Starsmith 24 Carat Remix is the more indie of the two, with a muffled beat and low bass gurgles supporting a continuous high-hat patter and more of the original version’s vocals than Passion Pit utilized. Also included is the Ocelot Remix of the album track “Obsessions.” If you’re looking for something delightfully different, swing this way.
