New Music: Andrew Bird - "Imitosis" (Four Tet Remix)

Download: Andrew Bird - "Imitosis" (Four Tet Remix)

Andrew Bird has been having a fine year in 2007. In the first part of the year, he put out Armchair Apocrapha, which has been included on a couple of year-end best-of lists and surely will be on more to come. He's opened for Wilco (in Minneapolis to boot), played for Daytrotter, toured the world, headlined the Hideout Block Party, and will play two shows at the Guthrie on Dec. 14th and 15th before starting 2008 with a tour of Australia and New Zealand. And, as we all know, New Zealand definitely likes the rock the party.

But before doing all that, Bird has one musical treat for you, the listener, and that's UK electronic act Four Tet (more specifically, Kieran Hebden) doing a remix of AA track "Imitosis". All remixes are a little too busy, in my ears, but this track rearranges the beat and melody of Bird's original in an admittedly interesting way. What's odd is that a guitar line which sounds similar to "Don't Fear The Reaper" has been added. It fits the song nicely, but I couldn't help but keep picturing Will Ferrell going nuts with the cowbell while I was hearing the track. Maybe that can happen on the "Fiery Crash" remix?

If you've got a fever and the only prescription is more Andrew Bird, then listen to the "Imitosis" remix at the top of the post.

Buy tickets for the Guthrie shows next week here and purchase Armchair Apocrapha at your friendly neighborhood brick-and-mortar independent music store.

(Jonathan Graef)