Time for another Remix Roundup! First up in this week’s installment, Brooklyn-based house duo The Golden Pony put their spin on Alt-J’s “Hunger Of The Pine.” Keeping the general temperature of the original, they turn up the tempo while infusing some kaleidoscopic synths into this deep disco edit. In other words, everything you loved about the original but now with a dance beat! Pick up a free download on SoundCloud.
And then we have the lovely new Claude VonStroke reinterpretation of London Grammar‘s single “Strong.” As opposed to the High Contrast Remix we also love, celebrated producer/DJ and pioneer of Dirtybird Records Claude calls out the softer elements of the original. Interweaving Hannah Reid’s lustrous vocals with a guitar riff and house shuffle, the result is a gorgeous effort — the chord change around the 1:48 mark will melt your heart. You can find this track on London Grammar’s compilation of If You Wait mixes, available on iTunes.
Finally, Swedish producer Oliver Nelson renders CAZZETTE‘s track “Sleepless” into a nu-disco gem. The original has inspired a myriad of remixes, but Nelson hits just the right note with his effortless retouch. Stream below.
Cult indie trio alt-J will release their second full-length album, This Is All Yours, September 22 via Canvasback. The English band’s first single, “Hunger Of The Pine,” retains their trademark atmospheric sound, but adds the unexpected with a sample from Miley Cyrus’ song “4×4” that works surprisingly well. Discussing the song’s creation in an interview with NPR, keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton said: “It was written very quickly using some guitar chords and sounds being layered on Ableton, and seemed to signal a bit of a new sound for us. The lyrics mainly suggest the idea that missing someone — pining — can be a physical pain much like hunger.”
Also hot off the press is their second release, “Left Hand Free,” which is a markedly different sound from the former. Safe to say that true to their sobriquet, their sophomore effort will be a fresh new triumph for the group. Stream both songs below as you hunger for the new album.
alt-J will tour the UK and US this fall, making a final stop in the district November 19.
Sleeplessly embracing Yawn yearns into me Plenty more tears in the sea
Now that I’m back from abroad, I’m amped to finally be sharing my list of stand-out indie tracks from the last year!
In no particular order, below are my top 50 artists and/or tracks of 2012. Since I started blogging midway through the year, some of these artists have been honored with a post prior and some have not. Thus for the sake of diversifying, in some cases the featured track below is not necessarily my favorite but a varying version of the original or new track entirely (but equally adored, obv).
Although on the surface a band represented by a symbol might seem pretentious, at least Alt-J (∆) is a symbol that can be pronounced (unlike the artist formerly known as Prince). Nonetheless, I’m willing to give the UK group a pass as the symbol signifying change has intrinsic meaning to them.
Plus, their blend of indie pop with syncopated rhythms and folk influences is pretty awesome. “Something Good” is my favorite track off the band’s debut LP, appropriately titled An Awesome Wave. The recently released video showcasing the demise of a Spanish matador is a visual feat also worth viewing.
poetry in an empty coke can 