In amongst all the fuss surrounding Tame Impala‘s third album Currents being released last month, it seems just about everyone has caught onto the Perth psych-rock outfit – everyone including HAIM.
That’s right! The sister trio who famous for their tracks Falling, Forever and The Wire on their 2013 debut album Days Are Gone, have very recently released a “remix” of Tame Impala’s Cause I’m A Man. The word remix is in inverted commas, because it’s slightly different to what you’d probably expect. From just a few seconds in on the track, you’ll know what I mean.
Toeing the line between remix and cover, HAIM have turned the track on it’s head and made it entirely their own. From the heart wrenching vocals of singer Danielle and subsequent backing melodies from Este and Alana, to the staggering production and plethora of subtle samples, this remix/cover is a serious contender for best of the year.
Lush, full and complete, HAIM have pulled out all the stops for this release and it shows. Sounding almost mechanical in some ways, it’s been slowed down, and somehow amped up with the emotion. There is something liberating about Danielle’s soaring delivering of the chorus, the hard hitting drums and the way the track rises and falls as it slowly stumbles along. It’s really something special, and the sisters have done the track a whole lot of justice.
Danielle announced the release of the track via the band’s Instagram, where she gave an insight into the first time she saw Tame Impala perform:“I remember standing in the crowd and not really understanding how this MASSIVE sound was coming off the stage with just 4 people playing. They were one of the best bands I had ever seen live. When I went back to my hotel, I downloaded their EP immediately — told my sisters to also — and since then we’ve seen their incredible shows all over the world at various festivals and loved every record.”
This isn’t HAIM’s first foray into the remixing/covering world, with the young women also known for their renditions of Beyonce‘s XO and Miley Cyrus‘ Wrecking Ball. Taking on one of 2015’s strongest releases was a bold move, but they’ve more than pulled it off here. There is no word (still) on a follow up to their 2013 release, but their recent collaboration with Calvin Harris had HAIM fans very excited indeed for fresh material. Watch this space!