"Signs" is the first single from ''

Intimacy Remixed ''Intimacy Remixed'' is the remix album to ''Intimacy'', the third album by indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released on 11 May 2009 in the United Kingdom through Wichita Recordings, the band's primary label, in limited edition CD and triple ...

'', the

remix album A remix album is an album consisting of remixes or rerecorded versions of an artist's earlier released material. The first act who employed the format was American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson (''Aerial Pandemonium Ballet'', 1971). As of 20 ...

Bloc Party Bloc Party are an English rock band, composed of Kele Okereke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, sampler), Russell Lissack (lead guitar, keyboards), Justin Harris (bass guitar, keyboards, saxophones, backing vocals) and Louise Bartle (d ...

's third album ''

Intimacy An intimate relationship is an interpersonal relationship that involves physical or emotional intimacy. Although an intimate relationship is commonly a sexual relationship, it may also be a non-sexual relationship involving family, friends, ...

''. The song's remix by Armand Van Helden was released on 27 April 2009 in the United Kingdom only on digital download and

12" vinyl The twelve-inch single (often written as 12-inch or 12″) is a type of vinyl ( polyvinyl chloride or PVC) gramophone record that has wider groove spacing and shorter playing time with a 'single' or a few related sound tracks on each surfac ...

. It is the first single to be released from a Bloc Party remix album as no songs were released from the previous effort ''

Silent Alarm Remixed ''Silent Alarm Remixed'' is the remix album to ''Silent Alarm'', the debut album by British indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released on 29 August 2005 in the British Isles on Wichita Recordings, the band's primary label, and on 13 September ...

''.

Musical style

Paul Cook of godisinthetvzine.co.uk stated that the remixed version of "Signs" does "away with the

xylophone The xylophone (; ) is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets. Like the glockenspiel (which uses metal bars), the xylophone essentially consists of a set of tuned wooden keys arranged in t ...

intro and delicate layering of vocals and instrumentals" of the original version by "wedging in a thick, house bassline. Cook also commented that this change "hasn't done this track any favours" and that the song "is far from inventive or experimental in its production". Simon Taylor of angryape.com offered a differing opinion, stating that "Helden rips up the dancefloor with his rework - all grinding synths, bouncy basslines and booming beats" to create a remix that "will appeal to clubbers and indie fans in equal measure", evoking the success of one Bloc Party's earlier singles, " Banquet".

Music video

The

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing devi ...

features "maligned individuals with volume knobs for eyes, equalizer

LED A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (cor ...

s for spines, and cable input/outputs for faces" as well as a "barrage of seemingly random and disturbing images ncludinga talking vagina". ''

Filter Filter, filtering or filters may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Filter (higher-order function), in functional programming * Filter (software), a computer program to process a data stream * Filter (video), a software component tha ...

'' described the video as "what a

sexually repressed Sexual repression is a state in which a person is prevented from expressing their own sexuality. Sexual repression is often linked with feelings of guilt or shame being associated with sexual impulses. Defining characteristics and practices asso ...

sound engineer An audio engineer (also known as a sound engineer or recording engineer) helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproduction, ...

's nightmare might look like", concluding that "all that being said, the rifle-quick

imagery Imagery is visual symbolism, or figurative language that evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions, especially in a literary work, but also in other activities such as psychotherapy. Forms There are five major types of sensory im ...

is suiting for the pace and rhythm of the song, emphasized by

house music House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago's underground club culture in the late 1970s, as DJs began altering ...

maestro Armand Van Helden who remixes the track". The video was directed by Hiro Murai, and David Knight of promonews.tv commented that his "inventive graftings of bodies and machines" seem to be "somewhat influenced by the Aphex-

Cunningham Cunningham is a surname of Scottish origin, see Clan Cunningham. Notable people sharing this surname A–C * Aaron Cunningham (born 1986), American baseball player * Abe Cunningham, American drummer *Adrian Cunningham (born 1960), Australian ...

school of body-horror". Knight ultimately described the video as "stunning", with similar positive comments from Peter Gaston of ''

Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning * Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis * Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...

'' who stated that it was "completely gripping". In addition, Gaston claimed that the video "ranks up there with

dance music Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded danc ...

's best videos, like Aphex Twin's " Come to Daddy"".

Track listing

Digital download # "Signs" (Armand Van Helden Remix) – 5:48 12" vinyl # "Signs" (Armand Van Helden Remix) – 5:48 # "Signs" (Armand Van Helden Remix

Instrumental An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instr ...

) – 5:33 # "Signs" (Pantha Du Prince Remix) - 8:45 Promo CD # "Signs" (Armand Van Helden Remix Edit) – 3:18 # "Signs" (John King Remix) - 4:01 # "Signs" (''

'' version) – 4:39

Charts

References

External links

"Signs" (Armand Van Helden Remix) music video at Bloc Party official website
{{Authority control Bloc Party songs 2009 singles 2008 songs Song recordings produced by Jacknife Lee Wichita Recordings singles Songs written by Kele Okereke Songs written by Russell Lissack