On first glance, I was surprised that the band included a remix on their Zebra EP (released especially for Record Store Day). With a quirky, zany name like Cough Syrup, I had visions of Legrand’s vocals cut up and glitched over a dirt electro house beat. Thankfully, that’s not what happens here, the word ‘remix’ doesn’t give the best impression of what’s done.
The album cut was a quite a cinematic affair that was one of the many instances of the band progressing beyond their introverted, low-fi beginnings. The shimmering guitar and the propulsive drums drove the song upwards and forwards providing a big sound for Victoria’s big vocals; a tentative attempt at big arena rock – on a small and earnest scale.
This remix is a carefully considered reworking. That does just sound like a more pretensions way of terming a remix, but it’s more in the spirit of what’s done. Cough Syrup has taken elements already within the song and respectfully tinkered. The song takes a couple of verses and the chorus and slows it right down to a similar length of the whole song. Legrand’s vocals become delicate, breathless and are cradled by the guitar’s lullaby arpeggios and shimmering tremolo which are far more expansive and dream-like. Those propulsive drums are turned down and made more subtle, too. It all has the effect of making a sound that has a lot more in common with their earlier albums, a lot more introverted and dreamy.
Which isn’t a bad thing at all.
MP3: Beach House – 10 Mile Stereo (Cough Syrup Remix)
MP3: Beach House – 10 Mile Stereo
I find the remix much more fascinating than the original version ’cause I prefer “10 miles” with that low speed. The drum rhythm in the LP version is too fast and the effects added in the remix are wonderfully psychedelic.
Unfortunately, some copies of the 12″ vinyl that contains the remix (Sub Pop) has some noises/defects… Next time check the test-pressing before press the record! And use black vinyl instead of the colored one.