Joakim - On The Beach EP

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  • Tigersushi label head Joakim obviously likes a challenge. If you were choosing a record from Neil Young's canon to give an electronic makeover, there are surely likelier candidates than "On The Beach." Joakim takes the Canadian folk rocker's original—a smacked-out, dark, alt-rock ramble—and turns it into a smacked-out, dark, sub-coldwave ramble. Built around a throbbing, choppy analogue rhythm and Joakim's heavily vocodered voice, it's a valiant effort but it feels like it needs a further twist. He doesn't give it the kind of comprehensive makeover that another Young mainstay, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," was afforded by St Etienne's 1990 Balearic revisit, for example. Joakim's "Cray 76" remix fares better. It veers further away from the stoned ennui of Young's version through booming snares, percussive pitter-patter and tumbling synths. Principles Of Geometry work languid dubsteppy atmospherics and Pinky & Perky vocals into their version, but its CFCF who provides the highlight remix. The Canadian producer reintroduces the guitar acrobatics from Young's original and—confidently/foolishly—works in some sultry sax and twinkling guitar washes for a modern Balearic take.
  • Tracklist
      A1 On The Beach A2 On The Beach (CFCF Remix) B1 On The Beach (Joakim's Cray76 Remix) B2 On The Beach (Principles Of Geometry Remix)
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