Artist: Hybrid
Title: Higher Than A Skyscraper (Remixes)
Label: Distinctive Records
By: Simon Jones | 20 February 2004
Tracklist:

• A: Hybrid Twitch & Sweat Mix
• B: The Orb's Towers Of Babel Mix

Hybrid "Higher Than A Skyscraper (Remixes)"

Hybrid return with the second single to be lifted from their 'Morning Sci Fi' album. 'Higher Than A Skyscraper', like the previous single 'True To Form' is graced with the guitar skills of New Order's Peter Hook, with backing from St Petersburg's Hermitage String Orchestra. The original pays more than a passing nod to the 'Wide Angle' era, but these remixes sway to the darker, deeper sound that Hybrid have been developing as of late.

Indeed, Hybrid's own 'Twitch & Sweat Mix' is a twisted update of the original, with filtered synth lines used to cut through the rumbling groove, turning it into a techno-edged monster. String loops are dropped in at each delay, the mix expanding as industrial beat arrangements pound down into the soundscape, before the dramatic strings of the original take us into a brief respite. The tempo then shifts as the beats ricochet back in for a gritty finale that takes us somewhere deep and dirty, where you can just imagine the king of filth Chris Healings sporting an evil grin as he leads the way.

It's a surprise to many to see 'The Orb' remix Hybrid, but their 'Towers Of Babel Mix' sees them strip the track down to it's core and letting the modified strings flow amongst a soundscape of sparse beats, ambient effects and quirky sounds that has their trademark vibe all over, before rolling synths and subtle guitar refrains take us into the latter half of the mix where a variation on the original's bassline carries this downbeat and spooky remix to it's finish.

This single highlights Hybrid's the continuing redevelopment of Hybrid's sound that started with 'Morning Sci Fi', and with several more singles and a unique follow up to their 'Remix & Additional Production By' project to follow in the coming months, it will be interesting to see what else they have planned.