Saturdance

Howard’s lend

December 4, 2010 0 Comments

There’s something about Tracey Thorn‘s voice that I’ve long associated with weather that calls for layers, particularly when it’s set against a dance beat. 

This link between timbre and temperature can be traced back to “Missing,” Thorn’s breakthrough hit with husband Ben Watt as Everything But The Girl. Aided by a brilliantly simple remix from Todd Terry, the duo steadily climbed the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall and winter of 1995, with “Missing” finally reaching #2 the following February.

My association of Thorn’s vocals with the chillier seasons was really cemented a few years later with EBTG’s final studio album, 1999′s Temperamental. Remixes of “Five Fathoms” and the title cut played in clubs that fall and winter, with reworks of third single “Lullaby of Clubland” hitting turntables a year after the album’s release.

So a month ago when I first heard “Without You,” a new track from Tevo Howard featuring Tracey Thorn, I deemed it a perfect fit for my “Fall for” series. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available for download at the time. An email exchange with Howard’s label Rebirth revealed that “Without You” would be released exclusively via Beatport on November 29, which brings this evening’s post.

“Without You” began life as an instrumental Howard issued on his own Beautiful Granville label back in 2008. At some point in the recent past, the Chicago DJ sent his deep house track over to Thorn, who wrote an original melody and lyrics over it. Listening to their wonderful collaboration again today, it’s fitting that it took a few weeks for “Without Me” to surface for purchase, since Thorn sings of being “cold as the snow.” Escape the elements and take shelter on the dance floor:

Purchase Tevo Howard feat. Tracey Thorn – “Without Me” via Beatport.