| "Far Nearer" / "Beat For" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Jamie xx | ||||
| Released | 6 June 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 12:35 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Jamie Smith | |||
| Producer(s) | Jamie xx | |||
| Jamie xx singles chronology | ||||
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"Far Nearer" / "Beat For" is the debut solo single of English producer Jamie xx, who rose to fame as being a member of the indie pop band the xx. The double A-side single was released on 6 June 2011 [1] [2] through Numbers under license from XL Recordings.
The single features two songs, "Far Nearer", a downtempo song with steel pan drums and Caribbean rhythms and tones, and "Beat For", a post-dubstep song with pitch shifted, distorted vocals and a heavy bassline.
The single received positive reception upon release. Larry Fitzmaurice of Pitchfork Media named the track "Far Nearer" as "Best New Track" for the week of 6 June 2011. [3] Reviewing the single, Fitzmaurice said:
While the downcast bleeps of "Beat For" sound similar to the moody, melodic strain of vocal-abstracted bass music that's become so prevalent over the last year, "Far Nearer" is another thing entirely-- a bright, steel-drum laden burst of euphoria that sounds better suited for beach umbrellas than dark clubs, melodically recalling the Tough Alliance at their bounciest. Crisp drum tracks ping-pong across "Far Nearer"'s wide span, clapping and retreating around the song's dramatic, pitch-fucked vocal sample: "I feel better when I have you near me". After all that waiting, "Far Nearer" is finally something you can keep close; forget "better," it feels great. [3]
— Larry Fitzmaurice for Pitchfork Media
The single reached a peak of No. 128 on the UK Singles Chart. [4]
All songs written and produced by Jamie Smith.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Far Nearer" | 6:50 |
| 2. | "Beat For" | 5:45 |
| Total length: | 12:35 | |
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart [4] | 128 |
