On their debut album, Changed, Lithuania's Mario Basanov & Vidis alternated between downcast electronic pop and ever-so-slightly clubbier impulses; they perfected that balancing act on the title track, a lush, melodic, mid-tempo house anthem that was complemented by remixes from John Talabot, Soul Clap and Andre Lodemann. Now, they step away from the dance floor with a cover of Bon Iver's "Re: Stacks," a bewitching single for their own Silence label that's also included on Sonar Kollektiv's recent Secret Love 6 compilation.
The meat and bones of the track are exceedingly spare, just a shuffling, half-time drum pattern and sinewy synthesizer counterpoints that gradually unfurl into a keening, Krautrock-inspired solo. It's the singer Barbarossa who really brings the song alive, translating the original's falsetto melody into a smoky, expressive alto reminiscent of Everything But the Girl's Tracey Thorn. The 4/4 pulse of Ame's remix nudges the tune back towards the club, but it's still soft and nubby as a ball of yarn, all muted tones and wispy drum hits. In true Innervisions fashion, it covers plenty of ground across its nine-minute run, building to an understated but nevertheless powerful climax before unraveling into strands of detuned arpeggio and Hauschka-like piano. It's a masterpiece of restraint.
Tracklist: Mario & Vidis - Restacks
A Restacks feat. Barbarossa
B Restacks (Ame Remix)
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