Scooter – Move Your Ass! (Remixes)

The German Hard Trance Happy Hardcore Rave sound was hugely popular in the mid 90's, with big acts like DJ Hooligan, Marusha, Westbam and Dune. Another massive part of that success was Scooter. Almost immediately they had hits on their hands, arguably their first and biggest hit single was the Ultra-Sonic-centric track Move Your Ass! It really rides that fine line between silly, fun and seriously good German Techno. It was inevitable that remixes were on the horizon. Considering Scooter's initial popularity and success, plus Club Tools clout as a record label, they were able to assemble an Avengers like line up of amazing German artists huge at the time. Even a remix from Scotland! It's nice to have good remixes, but are the good remixes nice?

First cab off the rank is Commander Tom's main man, Mandala from NOOM. What you notice straight away is the more serious vibe of the music, dispensing with HP Baxxter's voice in favour for a more robotic vocoder vocal and a very patient Acid line. In fact, you don't get any beats until the 1:40 minute mark, so an ideal set starter. There's a couple of efficient synth lines before a wayward Acid line joins in, it sounds slightly out of sync. But a NOOM Acid section is not to be ignored, its unusualness is also its strength. The last section of the remix is a lovely uplifting breakdown similar to the original with drum rolls and more Move Your Ass lyrics getting squashed in Vocoder. A pretty good start to the remix project, it always looks good with NOOM/Mandala/Commander Tom on remix duty. I'd imagine Mandala was working on this remix at the same time he was organising remixes for his Remixperience EP.

Mega 'Lo Mania were another big act in the German rave scene, this is the first of two remixes for Move Your Ass. It starts off emphatically with that windy Pad and delicate piano before a raw as hell 303 transforms into an energetic Acid riff and the remix takes off at 175-ish BPMs. The main part is the child-like lullaby riff which is really pitching its tent in UK Happy Hardcore territory. It sort of reminds me of another German rave act, Interactive. Your enjoyment of this remix rests solely on if you like these type of riffs. The balancing act of unhappy Acid and happy melodies is stretching credulity here. Or maybe I'm judging too harshly? I do understand that Mega 'Lo Mania have concentrated on the Happy Hardcore element of Move Your Ass, but I don't think I could play this version. Several Happy Hardcore DJs from England would quite like this remix though.

Sandwiched between the Mega 'Lo Mania remixes is a very curious remix. Well I thought it was curious back in the mid 90's. Scooter really owes its entire existence to Ultra-Sonic. Almost identical in the style of music they were making. Everybody knew that Scooter was copying Ultra-Sonic, but we still liked their songs. So it was surprising to see the Clubscene artists provide a remix to a song that they themselves inspired. I've wondered how it came about, probably a simple business transaction to help the profile of both artists. Or maybe like wrestlers, onscreen they don't like each other, but in real life they are good friends. Either way, this is another first-class production by the Glasgow duo. As you'd expect, the live crowd and vocals have been retained from the original. Ultra-Sonic have added a trademark soaring Acid line and a blissful piano riff to keep the remix lively and entertaining. This remix was licenced to the Australian compilation, Strictly Techno 2, which states the remix is 154 BPM. Scooter repays the debt by sending US a remix of Check Your Head. [̲̅U][̲̅l][̲̅t][̲̅r][̲̅a][̲̅-][̲̅S][̲̅o][̲̅n][̲̅i][̲̅c] [̲̅O][̲̅n] [̲̅T][̲̅h][̲̅e] [̲̅R][̲̅e][̲̅m][̲̅i][̲̅x][̲̅!] Rest In Peace Mallorca Lee.

I'm always weary when I see the word Dub in Techno music. Anyway, the second remix from No Respect Records starts off like a movie, epic cinematic score. There's a rolling synth line, a more sombre piano and HP Baxxter going, "Yeah". Another piano riff starts off and there's even hints of a pan flute underneath. A decent staggered riff turns up, all the while the rolling synth is amongst the action. Atmospheric Pads and killer pianos. Overall, this is a more wistful Trance number but emotional in all the right places. By far the better of the two remixes submitted by Mega Lo Mania. Maybe I was wrong about Dub.

After putting the first record back in its sleeve, it's time to pull out the second record of remixes. Is it safe to say Para-Dizer got the job based on the success of Song Of Liberation? Whatever the reason, this remix is the one I play the most. Mainly, because it's the fastest, clocking in around 180 BPM. Majestic Pad and the contradiction of a loud whispering "Move Your Ass". All the bells and whistles of German Hard Trance have been injected expertly to create a busy, intense, driving piece of Hard Trance Hardcore. The big sound here is a simple but pronounced stab section, with a tasty oscillating synth in the middle. Probably seldom played and long forgotten, but I do love playing this in a Hardcore set, and it bares little resemblance to the original track.

I had no idea who Men Behind were at the time, to be honest still don't to this day. I think I rarely played this remix because it was a little too slow for me. But it's still a great remix to listen to. An array of big rave stabs and plenty of smaller synth elements in between, squiggly Acid and even Breakbeat! It's relentless fun from start to finish, comes across like a Hi-NRG type of tune, a really good inclusion to this remix record.

The other remix that I hammered was the Alien Factory Remix, due in part because at the time I was a fan of their track, Get The Future Started. Once again fairly epic intro, bopping synth and typically super solid Arp revolving around. One thing I like about this remix is the relatively short succession of beats to the first breakdown. I tend to find this can get you out of a tricky mixing situation. There's a more harder beat used and healthy servings of the Roland JV-1080. I'm sure the instrument was used in the previous remixes, but here you can really feel the unique sound of the JV-1080 in this particular remix. Alien Factory do an excellent job of handling the dark and lighter shades of Hard Trance. Wunderbar!

Matiz is the other artist on here that was not known to me. Compared to the other producers on this record, it might be easy to overlook this remix. To their credit, they do finish off the double vinyl admirably. It's starts off with a unique Xylophone or Marimba composition and quick but tense upward riff. The heavy handed guitar stabs with the top heavy beat is miles away from the original track, but still sounds really good. It sags slightly in the middle before a strong wall of sound grinds everything to a halt. Similar to the Men Behind Remix, I forgot how enjoyable these remixes are. The Matiz Remix is a different take on Hard Trance, with less recognisible sounds being applied. If it wasn't for the HP Baxxter vocals used sparingly, you'd have no idea it was a remix of Move Your Ass, and to that end, it would be bold track selection for a better Trance DJ.

It is kinda remarkable how awesome this remix project was for such a commercial song. Therein lies the strength of German Techno and Rave music at the time. You hear the stories how remixes for pop artists is $$$ for artists, I wonder if that might have happened here. These amazing producers get some well deserved exposure and Scooter get some much needed credibility. If you like 90's Trance, Hard Trance and even Hardcore, there's something here for everybody. Recommended.

Ⓡค𝐕Ẹ 𝐧α𝓉𝕀Ỗⓝ, 𝕊𝕋𝕒ч tⓊᶰ𝑒Ď!

...on CD you get only 7 tracks. So please enjoy the german 2x vinyl remix version and get 8 tracks, including a longer version of the paradizer remix!

There are a lot of good reasons why one could dislike Scooter's music but this remix collection is not one of them. You get 8 remixes from great artists. 8 tracks who represent so typically the style of their remixers that you could make a quizz out of it while listening.
Move your ass is not one of the cleverest samples out there but every remixer makes the best out of it. They all play around with the great acid line of the original.
To really use this record in a mix is quite a funny (for you) and shocking (for your audience) experience. It is incredible to hear somewhere in the middle of a great Para-Dizer or Alien Factory sound H.P. Baxxter's Mover-your-ass scream.
These remixes move on a fine line between self-mockery, real art and kicking ass beats.

Im not a big fan of scooter what so ever, but this vinyl is absolutely awesome, it features remixes by 7 class hardtrance producers of the 90's. The only down side of this vinyl would have to be the very short duration of the "Para-Dizer Remix", which has to be one of the best remixes on the vinyl itself. Goes to show scooter did have some great tunes back in the day.