For a few years now, Massachusetts-based string alt-rock collective, Speed Ortiz, has been revitalizing the monotonous soundscape of the increasingly nebulous indie rock genre label with their ever lengthening lists of critically acclaimed studio releases, and they show no signs of slowing, with the forthcoming release of their digital-only Foiled Again EP. Foiled Again features two remixes of their previously released “Puffer” off their 2015 Foil Deer, the first of which features Lizzo and on an instrumental flip by Doomtree’s Lazerbeak.
Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz:
I was really into the album Lizzobangers, so we hit up Lizzo and Lazerbeak about collaborating in some way, even though we hadn't met IRL. After this remix was in the works, Speedy toured with Doomtree (who taught Mike [Speedy's drummer] how to shotgun a beer), and Lizzo and I wrote and recorded the song "Basement Queens" together in December. So in a way this remix was the catalyst for that tour as well as the song.
Lazerbeak’s reimagining of “Puffer” infuses an element equal parts R&B and hip-hop, which stabilizes the volatility of the original track, without cheapening the harsh unpolished aesthetic that made the original great. This coupled with Lizzo’s sway leaning flow and soulful vocal flourishes transform the original from a distortive ode to aggression into a alleyway night club mix, without foregoing the centrality of lead singer Sadie Dupuis’ seductive vocal delivery. The flip adds a curveball groove to the track, but somehow makes the track sound even more like something off of The Kill’s Midnight Boom than Speedy ever originally intended. And the punk swagger is still there in full force.
The full Foiled Again EP will be available on June 3 via Carpark Records. The band is currently on tour with support from Hop Along and The Good Life.
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