Every so often, a song comes along that lodges itself not only in your ear, but in your mind. You relate to it, but aren’t sure why. Is it the wistful lyricism, or the hollow acoustics reminiscent of grandfather’s guitar? The puckering bass line, tripping through a bath of whirring starsplashes…it becomes the soundtrack your universe, along with the many other songs and stories and memories that make you who you are.
The combination of Norway’s Kings of Convenience and Röyksopp is divergent from expectations for casual fans. Kings are known for their spare, delicate guitar ballads, equally calming and staccato. Röyksopp is one of the preeminent electronic acts of the past two decades, rising to the top through sustained quality production and showstopping live performance.
Sure, electronic acts remix pop acts all the time. In this case, however, it’s a matter of history. Both duos met in grade school (as in, the Kings singer me the Kings drummer), and had records out by high school (though under different monikiers). In the early 1990s, the Norwegian electronic scene settled in Bergen, a city of two million, and the recently formed Röyksopp collaborated with future Kings singer Erland Øye. And 17 years later, this fantastic remix dropped.
“I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From” is a song I’ve kept to myself for a long time. I don’t put it on shared playlists, or play it at public gatherings. I feel greedy for it, the chance to settle into the music and let my imagination drift. Our digital world pressures us to share, share, share; to brand ourselves through posts and shapshots. And we oblige, for no specific reason. But we all know that no digital footprint can ever show the person inside. Only years of intimacy can ever offer a partial image of the soul.
Today, I offer this track as a glimpse of the person behind the posts. Really, every song we post is a taste of us, a coy reference to something going on behind the screen. In this anonymous world, the music gives us voice. And we hope that, every time we share a piece of ourselves, your day gets just a little bit better.
Kings of Convenience – I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From (Röyksopp Remix)