Really enjoyed the last track we heard from Alpines, and the very enjoyable Cocoon certainly maintains the momentum created by Ice and Arrows (and the various remixes!).
A rousing effort from start to finish, the captivating vocals anchor the track superbly, with busy synths and light percussion weaving their way around that hypnotising voice to create an organic, engulfing atmosphere. The bright yet plain colour scheme in the video bravely removes focus away from the background, costumes and so forth, instead placing it firmly on the duality and progressive unravelling of the Alpines vocalist as she evolves from plain, still and emotionless into a dressed-up, busy and active character. It matches the progression of the audio very well, and is a simple yet artistic representation of what is fundamentally an excellent, well-rounded piece of alternative music.
To my less-dance centric ears, Skream can be very hit and miss with his beats. Here, he’s pretty much hit turned up to the absolute max. Grabbing the enchanting vocal stylings of Alpines, Skream attacks the track head on with a pulsating, energetic production that progresses superbly throughout the song.
Thudding along for the first section, Skream briefly switches things up around 50 seconds with a high-octane teaser of what is yet to come in the track. That teaser comes to life around halfway in as the motivational hook is layered with that same punchy percussion and throbbing synth line to create a neck-snapping production that you’ll struggle to sit still to. The track closes out in that same intense manner, and this is by my reckoning one of Skream’s finest productions to date, aided admirably by capable vocals once again from Alpines.
Huge fan of the original (go here for that), and this remix is certainly a nice compliment to its predecessor. Dark Sky puts together a blend of chillout and electronic to restructure the track into a more mellow yet dance-driven effort: those on the electro/dance/house (etc) side of the spectrum will really enjoy this.
The progressive nature of the production only serves to further that appeal, with various new elements added throughout to keep things interesting. Whilst not surpassing the original in terms of brilliance, it’s a very enjoyable listen nonetheless that works nicely alongside the original rather than in its place.
To me, the UK alternative/alt-pop scene has had a dearth of talent in recent years. There’s been repetition, dilution, and an outright fear to break the growing genre standardisation that has stifled its progress.
Call this a snap judgement (is there any other kind?), but one listen to this track offers a burst of originality that has just singlehandedly relit my interest in the scene. Combining the passion of Lykke Li’s vocal style with an added refinement and harmony, the track relentlessly grabs your attention with melodic, memorable vocals throughout the verses and the hook. The production is equally impressive, with atmospheric synths offering an ethereal vibe that compliments the grand vocal set, and an edgy combination of claps, keys, drums and the occassional guitar riff that prevent the production from become too delicate, and give it a richer and ultimately more rounded quality.
The heavy lighting and colourful graphics make for an appropriate video that enhance that airy, artistic feel of the track without extending too far into eccentricity. A very unique track that blends together a diversity of styles to great effect. Huge hopes for Alpines. Oh, and did I mention there’s a Skream remix coming soon?
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