Last October the world experienced the sonic beauty that is St. Vincent with her most recent album MASSEDUCTION via Loma Vista. And according to Under The Radar Mag, St. Vincent has shared a new version of the tear-jerking ballad “Slow Disco” with the new “Fast Slow Disco.” Check out the fast-paced heart-pumping track below.
Accompanied by a tasteful minimalist video, the new version of the ballad has brought out a more electronic and club side to St. Vincent. Unlike the original, “Fast Slow Disco” opens with a club-esque kick that controls the heartbeat as a sample of the strings goes on infinitely. In the background one hears soft “ooohs” that bring a spooky melody to the intro of the new version. A snare hits and the classic “Slow Disco” lyrics enter over a rolling synth bass and Kick/Snare combination. Soon the chorus enters and its as if your family joins you in one big hug: Annie Clark aka St. Vincent sings the classic lyrics to the song while a chorus of people sing in the background. The backing vocals of a choir brings in a quality that really makes the song what I think and hope Clark intended: a party in which the house is brought down by the rambunctious party goers as they sing along to the disco beat and vocals.
Even though there are now two versions of the song “Slow Disco” each is clear and distinct in that they stand alone as pieces of music. The original piece that came alongside the release of MASSEDUCTION gave a feeling of comfortable loneliness, as if the listener is dancing with Clark under a warm spotlight.
The newer “Fast Slow Disco,” even with the original vocals, gives off a vibe of a golden dance party in which everyone is singing along to the music, sweaty and happy.
In a statement pertaining to the new song, Clark says that she “always felt this song could wear many different outfits and live many different lives. Here she is in disco pants, sweating on a New York dance floor.” St. Vincent produced the song with Jack Antonoff, co-writing the song with Joy Williams of The Civil Wars.
UPDATE (6/21): St. Vincent has released a video for her updated version of “Fast Slow Disco.” In the clip Annie Clark writhes about on a sweaty dancefloor packed with leather-and-chain-clad fellas.
photo credit: Owen Ela