Remix Sunday: Taken by Trees vs Animal Collective and Guns N' Roses

It's a rare breed of musician who can cover an Animal Collective track without creating an ungodly mess, but Swedish outfit Taken By Trees (the solo project of Victoria Bergsman) have managed it with aplomb. 'My Boys' is a gently reworked version of one of 2009's best tracks, 'My Girls', that begs repeated listing. The song appears on Taken By Trees' excellent sophomore album East of Eden which also features backing vocal's from Animal Collective founding member Panda Bear. See the connection there? There's an official music video that features Victoria walking on a tightrope. That's pretty much it.

Taken By Trees seem to have a particular flair for covers. Last year's treatment of the Guns N' Roses standard 'Sweet Child O' Mine' was similarly fantastic. Here's a video of a live performance:

Taken By Trees will be at The Garage on December 14th.

Taken By Trees - My Boys

Taken By Trees - Sweet Child O' Mine

Taken Too Young

The Tough Alliance were responsible for one of my favourite releases of 2007, A New Chance. Not included on that album was the excellent single 'Taken Too Young', released back in August. The track is actually a remix; the original is by Taken By Trees, the project of fellow Swede Victoria Bergsman (formerly of the Concretes). The original is great, and TTA's remix is possibly even better.

The Tough Alliance - Taken Too Young
The Tough Alliance - Taken Too Young (zipped)

- a.m.p.m.