Listen to a Re-jiggered Version of “Clutch of Oblivion” from Sumac’s Upcoming Remix EP

The more I listen to Sumac’s latest album What One Becomes, the more I fall in love with it. I quite dug all the tracks the band put out in advance of the album’s release, sure, but it wasn’t until I sat down with the record — from start to finish — and some truly high-grade Cali medical that I fully got into it. The term “headphone album” is a bit dated now, but What One Becomes is one of those albums to which you’ve got to give your undivided attention to appreciate all that’s going on within it.

Now Sumac will release Before You I Appear, a limited 12″ EP featuring nearly 30 minutes of What One Becomes remixes. If the first track to be released is any indication — it’s “Clutch of Oblivion,” remixed by Bleed Turquoise (aka James Ginzburg of Emptyset) — then these versions of the album’s songs will be a bit more immediate than the originals. I’m digging this one a lot; it’s got razor-sharp keys in place of fuzzed out, distorted guitars, and the juxtaposition between those and Nick Yacyshyn spastic drums creates a jarring yet captivating effect. The rest of the EP boasts remixes by Samuel Kerridge, Kevin Drumm and Japan’s Endon, none of whom I’m familiar with, but hearing this first track makes me excited to hear them all.

Check it out below. Before You I Appear will come out sometime soon on Thrill Jockey; pre-order here.