Sailor & I – Tough Love

We can’t seem to locate very much information about Stockholm band Sailor & I, which is rather odd as they appear to be responsible for one of the best indie records of the year so far in the form of the heartbreaking ‘Tough Love’. Put together with real craftmanship, the song details the point in a relationship where everything’s gone to shit and you’re wallowing in the emotions of what was once great and is no longer. Not easy sentiments to convey musically, but Sailor & I manage to muster a palpable sense of despair through the use of beautiful, melancholy and delicate instrumentation and gut-wrenching lyricism. The real star of this track is undoubtedly the string arrangement which sets this aside from other songs of its ilk, but also places it in its surroundings – we’re sure that fans of Bon Iver, Beirut, The Cinematic Orchestra and Devotchka will find much to enjoy here.

If that all sounds a little too depressing for you, it’s remixes to the rescue! We’ve discovered two of note thus far. Melodic techno don Aril Brikha keeps intact much of the string section and sadness of the original but provides us with a bouncy instrumental that falls somewhere between house and disco and cheers things up considerably. Newcomer Wize perhaps didn’t understand Sailor & I’s lyrics as he has transformed the song into a hopeful Eurodisco delight that sits nicely alongside acts like The Tough Alliance and College.

We’re very excited to see what the band come up with next, but ‘Tough Love’ hints at genuine promise, the like of which we’ve not seen in a new band for some time. Whether you’re feeling cheery or glum, at least one of these versions should cater to your mood. Disclaimer: Maybe not the best song to listen to if you’re about to break up with your partner.

Sailor & I – Tough Love

Sailor & I – Tough Love (Aril Brikha Remix)

Sailor & I – Tough Love (Wize Remix)

EDIT:

The band have just updated their Soundcloud with the final EP version of ‘Tough Love’. Incredibly, it’s made the song even better – the drums thunder more heavily, reverb resonates in quiet corners, the strings swell to even higher plains and the vocals sound even more anguished. Genuinely excited about where this song might be headed.

• Aril Brikha
• Beirut
• Bon Iver
• Devotchka
• Disco
• House
• Indie
• Sailor & I
• The Cinematic Orchestra
• Tough Lough
• Wize