james blake

[7] Tove Lo feat. Hippie Sabotage, ‘Stay High’

tove lo 2014

Or whatever the blazes it’s called.

Tove Lo, ‘Stay High (Hippie Sabotage Remix)’
Tove Lo, ‘Stay High (Habits) (Hippie Sabotage Remix)’
Hippie Sabotage, ‘Stay High (Habits Remix) [Tove Lo]’
Tove Lo, ‘Stay High (feat. Hippie Sabotage) [Habits Remix]’

Basically, it’s ‘Habits’ remixed by Hippie Sabotage then given its more radio-friendly chorus-referencing title to realise its hit potential. And it made the top 10 both in real OCC terms and right here, so job done.

It’s a light touch of a remix that turns a blunt-edged power ballad into something crisp and satisfying that sounds a little like James Blake if he found a hook. The swell into the chorus is the moment I wait for, but the girls go for the “Oh-ohs”. Over and over again. Mind you, they know the rest of the words too – this never fails to amaze me because my brain’s never retained lyrics.

“Give it a tick!” demands Junior 2.

[12] James Blake, ‘Limit To Your Love’

James Blake

Seems a bit glib to push this one when young James made a clutch of astonishing EPs this year that were all his own work, but this Feist cover is a remarkable demonstration of versatility. A first it appears to be played straight – a far cry from those EPs of soulful yet glitchy, distant dubstep – then Blake throws in an enormous bass vibration. It certainly sweeps away Junior’s initial disappointment at a “slowie”. “It has big noises,” she points out, and stomps about to emphasise them. But for all the bassy excitement is it any good? “Yes.”

Of course it is. It’s monumental. We’re expecting great things for the lad in 2011, certainly a great album. Maybe even hefty sales, but we’ll settle for a great album.