Imogen Heap’s vocals have been sampled and remixed a seemingly infinite number of times over the years, yet a producer always comes along and reimagines her work in boundary-pushing ways. The newest release from Blu J does just that as the San Francisco producer(s) flip of “Headlock” turns the Speak For Yourself mood-setter into a gritty future-house cut that belongs on the nearest hazy dance-floor ASAP.
Another aspect of the cycle of Imogen Heap remixes is the inevitable rediscovery of her discography. After a few spins of “HDLCK,” I’ve found myself immediately switching over to Speak For Yourself to immerse myself in its sublime nature and reconnect with a wealth of favorites; “Hide and Seek” receives multiple listens, of course, but “Clear the Area” and “I Am in Love with You” are personal must-spins as well.
And that all goes without considering Sparks or Ellipse, two other brilliant electro-pop records whose only separating factor from Speak For Yourself is the lack of an internationally-renowned track. There’s little doubt I’ll be digging into those albums as the week progresses, and between every revisiting, “HDLCK” will continue to receive well-deserved plays of its own.
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