Mash-Ups are the information age's version of ready-mades. The rediscovery and repurposing of the familiar and culturally ingrained not only is a fun juxtaposition that requires a keen ear and real talent, but it also reveals the underlying unity found across all mediums. When done right, songs recorded in different eras, countries and genres are seamlessly integrated with each other to produce one new piece of music that is altogether unique and accessible to all.
The most famous of this new brand of synthesis artists is probably Girl Talk. But whatever, that dude has a movie about him - he doesn't need any more publicity. So fuck him.
The mash-up artist that I really love more than anyone else, though, has to be Mark Vidler a/k/a Go Home Productions. The British DJ takes a handful of songs and creates a sustained hybrid that fuses these multiple threads into one new song perfectly. There are recurring themes throughout one song and he uses the disaparate element to evoke a particular emotional response. That's an incredibly nerdy way of saying that he makes awesome songs out of other songs (even ones that are not so good). Here are my 7 favorite mash-ups by Go Home Productions. All of these songs are available to download at his site for free, so be sure to check them out. Enjoy!
7. "PinocchioHead on LSD"
6. "Karma in the Life"
5. "Abba and the Bunnymen"
4. "Velvet Sugar"
3. "Annie Rush"
2. "Making Plans for Vinyl"
1. "Supreme Evil"