Electricity (The Avalanches song)

"Electricity" is a song by Australian electronic music group The Avalanches. Produced by group members Robbie Chater and Darren Seltmann, it was issued as a single on 13 September 1999 as the group's first release for Modular Recordings. "Electricity" was later remixed and remastered for inclusion on the group's debut album Since I Left You (2000). The song features prominent samples of "Rapp Dirty" by American musician Blowfly, as well as guest vocals from Australian singers Sally Russell and Antoinette Halloran. Several critics' reviews of the song noted its disco sound and likened it to the work of French electronic music duo Daft Punk. "Electricity" was later re-released as a single on 3 December 2001, with single releases containing remixes of the song by DJ Harvey and DJ Sneak.

"Electricity"
Single by The Avalanches
from the album Since I Left You
B-side"Information"
Released13 September 1999
Recorded1999
Soft Light Bistro
GenreElectronica, alternative hip hop, house
Length3:48 (1999 single version)
3:29 (album version)
LabelModular, Rex, XL
Songwriter(s)Robbie Chater, Darren Seltmann, Willie Clark, Clarence Reid
Producer(s)Robbie Chater, Darren Seltmann
The Avalanches singles chronology
"Rock City"
(1997)		 "Electricity"
(1999)		 "Frontier Psychiatrist"
(2000)

Background and composition

"Electricity" was the first song from Since I Left You to be recorded.[1] The song was produced by group members Robbie Chater and Darren Seltmann,[2] with the former describing it as "the first number which really came together for us."[1] It was not originally produced for the album, and was only intended for release as a one-off single.[1] The group later included it on Since I Left You as a last-minute addition to the album after deciding that the song "still sound[ed] good."[1]

A dance song with influences of disco,[3][4] "Electricity" begins with an opera solo performed by Australian soprano Antoinette Halloran.[2] Her vocals repeat throughout the song, mixed with the additional vocals of Australian singer Sally Russell.[2] The song's production features samples of "Rapp Dirty" by American rapper Blowfly and scratching by Avalanches member James De La Cruz.[2]. Also featured are the drums from "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll" by Vaughan Mason and Crew (a track that is also sampled in "Da Funk" by Daft Punk)

Critical reception

"Electricity" was met with positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Marc Savlov of the Austin Chronicle wrote that the song "rediscover[s] the sexy summer soul of pure, funky house-play."[5] Sam Richards of The Guardian praised Antoinette Hallorann's "Neptunian operatic overture", calling it an "unexpected delight".[6] NME's Christian Ward compared the track to the music of French electronic music duo Daft Punk, writing that "Electricity" "do[es] that sublime filtered disco thing as well as their French counterparts."[7] Likewise, Anthony Bozza of Rolling Stone called the song "analog-filter disco" and likened it to "Daft Punk without the Kraftwerk influence."[7]

Release

"Electricity" was issued as a single in 12-inch format on 13 September 1999, limited to 500 copies.[8] The single was the band's first release under Modular Recordings in Australia, having signed to the label the previous year.[9] In the United Kingdom, Rex Records issued 7-inch singles of "Electricity" with a production run of 1,000 copies.[9] Following the release of The Avalanches' debut album Since I Left You, "Electricity" was re-released by XL Recordings as a double pack featuring a two-part 12-inch EP and an enhanced CD single.[10] The double pack was released on 3 December 2001 in the United Kingdom.[10] Due to the special nature of its release, "Electricity" was disqualified from inclusion on the UK Singles Chart.[10]

Formats and track listings

1999 release

2001 release
  • CD single (United Kingdom)[8]
  1. "Electricity" (edit) – 3:46
  2. "Electricity" (Dr. Rockit's Dirty Kiss) – 6:51
  3. "A Different Feeling" (Ernest St. Laurent Remix) – 6:07
  4. "Electricity" (original 7" version) – 3:48
  5. "Frontier Psychiatrist" (video) – 4:19

Credits and personnel

Credits for "Electricity" adapted from 12-inch EP and Since I Left You album liner notes.[2][12]

Personnel
  • Robbie Chater – arrangement, mixing, production, sampling, songwriting
  • Willie Clark – songwriting ("Rapp Dirty" sample)
  • Guy Davie – mastering
  • James De La Cruz – turntables
  • Tony Espie – mixing
  • Antoinette Halloran – vocals
  • Clarence Reid – songwriting ("Rapp Dirty" sample)
  • Sally Russell – vocals
  • Darren Seltmann – arrangement, mixing, production, sampling, songwriting
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References
  1. Clode, Samantha. "The Avalanches Extended Interview". Triple J Magazine. Sydney (53). Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  2. Since I Left You (liner notes). The Avalanches. Modular Recordings. 2000. MODCD009.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. Kellman, Andy. "Since I Left You – The Avalanches". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  4. Bozza, Anthony (30 October 2001). "The Avalanches: Since I Left You". Rolling Stone. New York. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  5. Savlov, Marc (2 November 2001). "Music Review: The Avalanches – Since I Left You (Modular)". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on 30 October 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  6. Richards, Sam (19 August 2011). "My favourite album: Since I Left You by the Avalanches". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  7. Ward, Christian (16 April 2001). "Avalanches: Since I Left You – Album Reviews". NME. London. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  8. "Discography". The Avalanches. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  9. "Artist Profile – Avalanches". EMI. Archived from the original on 24 November 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  10. "Avalanches release new single". Resident Advisor. 24 November 2001. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  11. "Electricity – The Avalanches". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  12. Electricity (liner notes). The Avalanches. XL Recordings. 2001. XLT 137.CS1 maint: others (link)
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