The first time I interviewed Dimitri from Paris, he gave me a History of Dub Plates that probably could form the basis of a scholarly treatise on the subject. The second time I interviewed him, Dimitri broke down how laws to preserve the Japanese record industry had given rise to the myriad "imports" from that country that you see fetching a high dollar on eBay. And that's what this one is. The Remix Files is a 10 track collection of edits for the Japanese market, and if you're a fan of his lovingly handcrafted remixes, you'll pay any price to get this.
Unlike some of Dimitri's disco compilations for BBE, the source material here represents an astonishing breadth of music old and new, from Sister Sledge to Tortured Soul. I don't have the benefit of liner notes to go from here, but I know that at least a few of these have been released before. Regardless, there are few remixers interesting enough in what they do to merit a comp of their various collections and you're an inhuman monster if you deny that Dimitri is one of them.
Sister Sledge's "Thinking Of You" leads it off, and it's an inspired pick. Originally recorded back in 1979, it was re-released as a single some five years later sounding painfully out of time compared to Frankie Goes To Hollywood and the other synth-based recordings that were then at the top of the charts. As with most Nile Rodgers-produced Disco, the guitar is tight and Dimitri wisely preserves it virtually untouched in his edit. Stetasonic's "Talking All That Jazz" goes under the knife as well with "Dim's Respect For The Old School Remix" - I really couldn't stand the original but dammit if his heavily funked-up edit didn't have me scootin' along.
More recent source material here includes the aforementioned Tortured Soul ("Another Lover"), DJ Spen & The Muthafunkaz's ("A Reason To Love") and Tommy Sunshine & Midnight Magic ("I Found Love"). You might have a few of these but I bet you don't have 'em all, and this collection is worth the ducats for the import fees.
Review by: Terry Matthew / December 2011 (print)
Available: Only place I've been able to find this sucker is at Simply Soul mail order.
Terry Matthew is the managing editor of 5 Magazine. You can contact him at 
