Noisy, funky, composed—these are words that don’t often appear together when describing a three-minute single, especially a cover. There are exceptions, though. Japanese composer Shuta Hasunuma and his team of musicians make it seem effortless in their newest release, “Seneca."
Released in 2001, the original song by Tortoise blends live instrumentals with electronic elements in a deliciously unique manner.
Deciding to cover it would be a bold choice for many, given the complexity of the piece, but the result is an absolute stunner. It's a little more upbeat and straight-to-the-point than the original, transitioning from a booming, almost orchestral introduction to more defined instrumental sections.
Layers of synths gradually build on the jazzy instrumentals, making it a thoroughly satisfying listen from start to finish. The cherry on top: it was mixed by John McEntire, a member of Tortoise and several other legendary groups.
If you're a nerd for song covers like I am, you'll want to go back and forth between the original and the cover until your brain is swimming with drum rolls and little electronic beeps and hums.
This one definitely calls for headphones.
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