For several months in the mid ‘90s, the remix of the song “Missing” by the group Everything But the Girl seemed to be everywhere. Don’t remember it? Well, this was the chorus: “And I miss you/like the deserts miss the rain.” Now you remember, right? Well, that song propelled the group to numerous dance club hits for several years, most of which paired spare electronics and choppy drum ‘n’ bass beats behind singer Tracey Thorn’s beautifully melancholy vocals. I was never a huge fan of the drum ‘n’ bass sound, but I always loved Thorn’s evocative voice. But Everything But the Girl – or even Thorn herself, as a guest vocalist – hadn’t recorded anything in a while. Until last year, when she released a solo album, Out of the Woods.
For me, this was a doubly nice surprise, since not only does her voice still sound great, but the solo album seems to leave behind the choppy drum ‘n’ bass beats for a smoother, fuller electronic sound. My current favorite track on the album is the mellow but buoyant tune "Raise the Roof." The song, with its bleeping and blipping Atari 2600-like synth noises, sounds a bit like a throwback to early Depeche Mode. However, because Thorn’s vocals are so in the forefront melodically, as well since over the past few years some newer indie groups such as The Postal Service or The Sounds have brought this early ’80s sound back into vogue, things never seem stale. Plus, "Raise the Roof" is one of those rare tunes that could be spun for both the cocktail hour and the after-party.
But also, in keeping with its early ’80s feel, the song also has an extremely well-crafted video. Remember when those were everywhere? This one features a young man and woman nervously but happily getting ready for first date at a dance, and the subtle way it’s directed makes this simple story both sweet and sexy. Too bad a lot of people don’t watch videos regularly, because this one deserves more attention. At least for me, its endearing images stuck in my head – and therefore made a good song even better.
June 1, 2008