Futile Devices

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"Futile Devices"
Song by Sufjan Stevens
from the album The Age of Adz
ReleasedOctober 12, 2010 (2010-10-12)
Length2:11
Label Asthmatic Kitty
Songwriter(s) Sufjan Stevens
Producer(s) Sufjan Stevens

"Futile Devices" is a song by American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens. Originally a track from Stevens' sixth studio album, The Age of Adz , remixes of the song were released in 2012 and 2017, respectively. It was also featured in the 2017 film Call Me by Your Name .

Contents

Background and composition

As the first track of The Age of Adz , "Futile Devices" is described as a combination of "piano and acoustic guitar" and "tippy-toed grace". [1]

Remixes and cover versions

The song was covered by American band Rituals of Mine (then-known as Sister Crayon) in 2011. [2] A remix of "Futile Devices" by American musician Shigeto was released on February 29, 2012. [3] The remix incorporates "bass-clouds and IDM clicks". [4] In 2017, a new remix of the song by American producer Doveman was commissioned for the romantic drama film Call Me by Your Name . [5] The film's director, Luca Guadagnino, specifically asked to include the song in the film. [6] Doveman's remix was physically released on limited edition 10-inch vinyl in February 2018 alongside the songs "Mystery of Love" and "Visions of Gideon", all three of which were featured on the Call Me by Your Name soundtrack album. [5]

Critical reception

In his review of The Age of Adz for The Guardian , Alexis Petridis praised the song's "delicate guitar figure" as well as its "beautiful Simon and Garfunkel-ish melody". [7] Also writing for The Guardian, Alexandra Pollard ranked the song eighth on a list of Stevens' ten best songs. [8]

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References

  1. Mackay, Emily (October 8, 2010). "Album Review: Sufjan Stevens – The Age Of Adz (Asthmatic Kitty)". NME . Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  2. Fuentes, Catherine (December 21, 2011). "Exclusive Download: Sister Crayon's Cover of 'Futile Devices'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  3. Cragg, Michael (February 29, 2012). "New music: Sufjan Stevens – Futile Devices (Shigeto remix)". The Guardian . Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  4. Breihan, Tom (February 24, 2012). "Sufjan Stevens – "Futile Devices (Shigeto Remix)"". Stereogum . Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (February 22, 2018). "Sufjan Stevens to Release 'Call Me by Your Name' Songs on 10-Inch Vinyl for Record Store Day: Exclusive". Billboard . Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  6. Willman, Chris (February 20, 2018). "Sufjan Stevens on How His Wary Dance With Hollywood Led to an 'Outrageous' Oscar Nom". Variety . Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  7. Petridis, Alexis (October 7, 2010). "Sufjan Stevens: The Age of Adz – review". The Guardian . Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  8. Pollard, Alexandra (May 11, 2017). "Sufjan Stevens – 10 of the best". The Guardian . Retrieved July 4, 2020.