This single was sold in Europe and Japan, and although it is now out of print, one or both of the CD singles are
available through various dealers and importers.
Out Of My Mind CD single
This 2 CD set offers us the first chance to hear some of the tracks
from Duran's upcoming album, Medazzaland. The first disc does a good job of
showcasing some of the latest things Duran has been doing in the studio.
Out Of My Mind (OOMM) is a good song, showing that Simon is still an
excellent poet. However, the production (guitars programmed through a
synthesizer, various samples and added effects in the background) makes it
sound very sterile, as if Simon recorded the vocal in one room and
everything else was done via synthesizer. Silva Halo reminds me of Secret
Oktober in that it has a similar moody, esoteric feeling to it. It's not
hard to start hearing the lyrics to Secret Oktober in your head as you
listen to it. However, I must point out that Silva Halo is heavy on samples
and feedback that litter the background of the song unnecessarily.
For those of you (like me) who wish Duran would put out some good
dance tracks again, Sinner or Saint might be more to your liking. Sinner or
Saint is one of the tracks on Medazzaland to feature John Taylor but will
only remain a b-side, it is not on the upcoming album. The lack of a
permanent rhythm section in Duran will certainly be missed, as this is the
most vibrant song on the CD. Some people may find that Sinner or Saint tends
to be grating and annoying the more they hear it. Although the lyrics aren't
the greatest, the song is quite catchy and the music is good and upbeat.
The last track is the Electric Remix of Out of My Mind, and the main
difference seems to be that there are some different samples in the
background. There is not much to distinguish this from the album
version of OOMM that is on the same disc.
This disc seems to be a good representation of the new direction
that Duran is going in. If you like the selections on this disc, Medazzaland
will probably really thrill you. However, I'm not that enthusiastic about
any of these songs. It's hard to tell where the real musicians (and their
contributions) are when they are buried under layers of samples, sequencers,
and the other effects added when the songs were mixed. There's nothing
wrong with using the latest techniques and new technology. However, there
needs to be a balance between using it well and using it so much that it
overwhelms the songs. The songs on this disc too often fall into the second
category. If you are desperate to hear some new Duran songs and can't wait
until the album comes out, then you may want to buy this. Collectors may
want this because it is no longer in print. I think it's an interesting
collectible, but not a must-have, especially since all the songs will be on
Medazzaland.
Out Of My Mind mixes
The second disc brings to mind the question: How many remixes of a
song do you need? Personally, I'm not a fan of remixes. I don't find most
of them particularly interesting or necessary. I have never understood why
Duran has become so enamoured with them that they feel the need to produce so
many for each song. There are six mixes of OOMM included on these two
discs, and I wouldn't be surprised if more remixes of it surface later on.
However, none of the remixes on the second disc stand out. The Perfecto
Radio Edit is a bit more energetic than any of the other mixes, because it
has a harder, more techno sound to it. The Perfecto Mix sounds similar to
the album version on the first disc, with longer instrumental sections. The
Perfecto Instrumental and Perfecto Dub 1 mixes (the third and fourth tracks)
are both instrumental, so they do make nice background music. If you like
OOMM, or are a fan of remixes, then the second disc of mixes is definitely
something you should have. Other than that, the second disc is only essential
for collectors and people who to own everything Duran-related.
rating: overall, I'd give the double CD set a 7.5 on a scale of 1-10.