This is one of my favourite remixes, partly because it doesn’t feel like a remix.
Remixes can be fun when they do clever things like loop a single vocal line, make a chill song even chiller, or chop a classic into little pieces. But this remix is remarkable because it keeps the original vocal track entirely intact and builds a new instrumental track around it. The result is a song that feels less like a remix and more like an alternate studio version. And as much as I like the original, I kind of like Flako’s version even better.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. In the original, the instrumentation is sparse. Here, synths and live instruments fill out the sound.
2. In the original, the verse is slow and lilting. Here, the climbing bassline, picked guitar, and ticking percussion give the verse a bit more urgency.
3. In the original, the chorus begins on the line, “He’s elusive, I’m awake.” Here, the flow of the music suggests that the chorus starts after the line, “Open my eyes and I’m next to you,” as the song slows to a calmer half-tempo.
Recommended listening activity:
Buying a brand of cola you’ve never tried.