Release Date: January 31, 2025
Track Listing
- HESONOO + X-GENE x XDM
- GRL GVNG x XDM
- WOKE UP x XDM
- SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT x XDM
- TGIF x XDM
- PUPPET SHOW x XDM
- TIPPY TOES x XDM
- NEW DANCE x XDM
Review
XDM Unidentified Waves is XG’s first remix album featuring alternate versions of their more popular single releases and album cuts. All of the songs on this album are within various dance music sub-genres, including Jersey House, House, and Trance, which take XG’s tracks into full-on dance party territory.
Long-time followers of XG know that the group’s bread and butter sound lies within the R&B and Hip-Hop world. Hearing some of these songs in a much different context may be jarring for some. However, many of these remixes have a mainstream listener appeal, so they don’t go all weird like some of the more underground compositions tend to do.
Much like what I did with NewJeans’ remix album, I will be completely transparent and say that it’s difficult to be objective when it comes to material such as this. I have a heavy bias towards remixes since I was alive in the superstar DJ era of pop music when every song had a remix, and it was fairly common to hear them on weekend mix shows. And since I also compose bootleg remixes, it’s no surprise that I prefer different interpretations of songs.
With that in mind, the triple title tracks represent what you should expect from this album. You either get pop-friendly House or EDM, like GRL GVNG and PUPPET SHOW or get something a bit harder-hitting and somewhat left-field, like TGIF.
If you prefer the former, the takes on SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT and NEW DANCE will hit your sweet spot. And if you like the latter, there are some interesting subwoofer testing versions of HESONOO + XGENE, WOKE UP, TGIF and TIPPY TOES to push your speaker system to its limits.
The balance is pretty equal, so if you favour one type of sound over the other, there should be something for you to listen to on this remix album.
Since remixes are somewhat subjective in pop music, their value for bringing a fresh perspective or new life into a song can be lost. I get it; it’s a different environment now compared to the days of yore. However, I recommend giving this remix album a go since it’s still an in-house XGALX production and not contracted to flavour-of-the-month DJs. And these are pretty good, unlike the past remixes of SHOOTING STAR, LEFT RIGHT and WOKE UP.
