Today, in lieu of the biding US presidential election, British pop-star, Charli XCX and American indie-genius Rostam Batmanglij combine for Jim E-Stack’s retro-infused, but modern-in-theory single, Deadstream (Rostam version). According to Pitchfork, the “rework” of the single Deadstream premiered on Beats 1 this morning. The heart-skipping, young-love inspiring track welcomes a much-needed refuge from all of the blatant political hoopla circulating this year’s pop culture. However, it bears mentioning that even former Vampire Weekend member, Rostam couldn’t bite his tongue, in reference to an earlier tweet on the artist’s page stating, “if u ever dreamed of hearing me and @charli_xcx sing a duet today is a good day (assuming no apocalypse),” we certainly, however, can’t blame him. But, with a potential “apocalypse” on the horizon, at least fans of luscious electronic sound-waves and ethereal vocal duets can find solace in having one last pop song to collect the dawn of potentially no tomorrow.
Jim-E Stack’s new single, Deadstream parlays sensual, yet quivering vocals in part from Ms. XCX that are reminiscent of earlier works from the legendary Daft Punk. However, the producer’s integration of sampled guitar riffs that coincide with something out of the Seinfeld TV-Show, “back-from-break” sound clip, play off of the awkward, pre-pubescent days of everyone’s first crush, or even love.
But, then, Rostam joins the ladder lady in this ensemble of sound adding, “why do I have to let you go?…/its not over when you say its over/…its so good when we can see each other…” in a brooding electronically enhanced, or rather filtered recording onto the track. One thing becomes clear through this eery lens of love and loss and doubt: Charli XCX and Rostam have an intuitive connection as collaborators. Before the release of Deadstream, the two artists worked together previously on the track Need Ur Love off of XCX’s 2014 album, Sucker.
While the single lacks any tangible, analog-like warmth: Deadstream is a crisply produced and heavily anecdotal look at the future of pop music, its’ inherent nature is rooted in that glittering hope that one day love will find you. Thus, the track’s universal appeal transcends the likes of its instrument-only predecessors — it offers a glimpse of what future love might look like, one with some Sci-fi tale of Artificial Intelligence and human emotion combine. Sounds kind of scary, but kind of sweet. Right? Okay maybe. fine well, welcome to the digital age.
Leave a Comment