Some great things have come out of accidents. Choc Chip cookies for instance came into being when Ruth Wakefield tried to substitute bakers chocolate for sweetened chocolate expecting the chocolate to melt to make chocolate cookies. Or take fireworks, invented by an unknown chef in 7th century China. Experimenting in the kitchen with charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter then compressed down a bamboo tube the cook was shocked when the thing exploded. A few centuries later and now we’re all the better for it.
The same can be said for Problems‘s rework of Moonbeam. Originally a Goldielocks track, what started as a remix project for the Problems duo became an entirely different beast than what they set out to create. Again, we’re all the better for it.
No issues here, Adelaide duo Problems give Moonbeam a slick new rework. Stripped back and as intimate as a starlit date, it’s a clear winner.
There are some pretty killer reworks out there, Tom Iansek‘s treatment of Art of Sleeping‘s Crazy comes to mind. The key to a good rework is to honour the original and breathe new life into it. While most remixes see artists just giving tracks a little more sheen, what Problems manage is to give Moonbeam a new identity. We wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t recognise the two songs are the same thing.
Hailing from Adelaide, Problems are made up of Justin Walkden and Shane Lock. The guys released debut EP For The Ages last year. Since then they have been busy plugging away at their follow up EP and have already released the lead single Title. The duo have had plenty of praise for their thoughtful and nuanced take on electronic music, and their rework of Moonbeam is no exception.
There are a lot of elements in play on Problems’ iteration of the track. It’s far more atmospheric, the opening percussion meandering lazily as the vocals crawl by wearily. A lot of the big, dramatic elements from the original are stripped away, leaving a piece of music that is light on your ears but actively engages with your mind. As the bass slithers into view the extra vocal layers helps tie the track together, giving Moonbeam the feeling of enjoying the warm Spring sun with a gentle breeze on your back.
Speaking of the track Problems have said, “We were digging on the track but really wanted to make rework it in our own style. We pretty much started a whole new song from scratch while drawing on elements from the original. We re-sang the vocals but still re-used some of the samples. This really does feel like a Problems track and we thank Goldilocks for the inspiration and opportunity to rework this piece.”
Problems will be releasing their sophomore EP in the near future, so be sure to check out their socials for all the deets.
