Warpaint – Undertow (remixes) review

Beyond the critical acclaim and tumblr’s dedicated to their slinky bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg, Warpaint’s second album The Fool belongs amidst that most rare breed of releases in today’s climate. Mercifully lacking in the endless official remix commissions that clog up the internet to feed the ravenous appetite of the ADD masses, the LA quartet’s music has been left to admire on the merits of the album only. Aside from a decidedly weak Javelin remix of “Undertow” that is – presumably done to appease the Pitchforkean gods – but let’s not dwell on that.

The aforementioned track has always had an anthemic, louche quality to it, marking it as a highlight of The Fool, and in the right hands there is plenty that could be done to transform the track into something that would appeal to more electronic ears. This is a fact clearly not lost on New York based producer Night Plane, who the more attentive amongst you will remember for releases on ThisIsNotAnExit as well as a recent Beach House sampling delight that flew under the radar of wider appreciation (despite a remix from Wolf + Lamb’s Gadi).

Night Plane’s remix of “Undertow” first appeared on his Soundcloud page close to a year ago, and was subsequently given further exposure by Soul Clap, being a prominent highlight of the Boston duo’s Radio One Essential Mix. For whatever reason it remained in release limbo until now, so we can be thankful that Rough Trade actually paid heed to the widespread calls for an official release. Resolutely psychedelic in its execution, Night Plane perfectly implements the original’s distinctive vocals and driving guitar sounds amidst a gently nudging groove that weaves its spell with true magnificence.

This remix resides on the flip of a limited twelve that comes in the greenest of greens, with the opening space occupied by !!!’s Nic Offer. The vocalist might not be known for his efforts as a remixer, but his “Deepest Part Of The Water” revision, completed with the studio help of TBD’s Justin Vandervolgen, is suitably titled indeed. The track’s choral refrain is subjected to all manner of cavernous dubbing amidst a brilliantly loping disco house chug, all rough, tumbling drums and tribal bass rumbles.

Tony Poland