Tessellate (song)

"Tessellate"
Single by Alt-J
from the album An Awesome Wave
Released	13 July 2012
Recorded	2011
Genre	Indietronica trip hop art rock
Length	3:02
Label	Infectious Atlantic
Songwriters	Joe Newman Gus Unger-Hamilton Gwilym Sainsbury Thom Green
Producer	Charlie Andrew
Alt-J singles chronology
"Breezeblocks" (2012) "Tessellate" (2012) "Something Good" (2012)
Music video
"Tessellate" on YouTube

"Tessellate" is a song by English indie rock band Alt-J from their debut studio album, An Awesome Wave (2012). The song was written by Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Gwilym Sainsbury and Thom Green and produced by Charlie Andrew. It was originally released on 13 October 2011 as a double A-side single with “Bloodflood”, before being released separately on 13 July 2012 as the album's third single.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Tessellate" was first released on YouTube on 9 July 2012. ^[1] The video was directed by Alex Southam and is a reworking of the painting The School of Athens by Raphael, using 21st century characters in a room similar to the painting's background (Panthéon, in Paris). One of the characters at the very beginning of the clip is wearing a printed T-shirt of the painting.

Covers

In 2013, "Tessellate" was covered by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding on the deluxe edition of Halcyon Days , the reissue of her second studio album, Halcyon . ^[2] English indie folk band Mumford & Sons also covered the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 25 September 2012; ^[3] their version was included on the compilation album BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge 2013 .

Media usage

The song is used as the opening theme song to the anime series Ingress . ^[4]

The song has been featured in the soundtrack to the television series Day of the Jackal and Alien: Earth .

Is the ending song of the 1st Season of the television series Atypical .

Track listing

Digital download ^[5]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tessellate"	3:02
2.	"Tessellate" (Live at the Africa Centre)	4:26
3.	"Tessellate" (Dam Mantle Remix)	6:17
4.	"Tessellate" (Anstam Remix)	3:58
5.	"Tessellate" (Marlais Remix)	3:53

Charts

Chart (2012–13)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [6]	74
Canada Rock ( Billboard ) [7]	46
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [8]	120
UK Indie (OCC) [9]	6
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [10]	43
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [11]	19
US Rock & Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [12]	33

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [13]	Gold	35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [14]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [15]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom	13 July 2012 [5]	Digital download	Infectious Atlantic

References

1. alt-J - Tessellate [OFFICIAL VIDEO. YouTube
2. Corner, Lewis (5 July 2013). "Ellie Goulding confirms repackaged album 'Halcyon Days'". Digital Spy . Retrieved 29 May 2015.
3. "Mumford and Sons cover Alt-J's 'Tessellate' – listen". NME . Time Inc. UK. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
4. Ressler, Karen (26 September 2018). "English Rock Band Alt-J Performs Theme Song for Ingress Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
5. iTunes - Music - Tessellate (Remixes) - EP by Alt-J (∆)
6. "Alt-J – Tessellate" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
7. "alt-J Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
8. Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update 28.07.2012 (wk29)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
9. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
10. "alt-J Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
11. "alt-J Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
12. "alt-J Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
13. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 25 April 2021.
14. "British single certifications – Alt-J – Tessellate". British Phonographic Industry.
15. "American single certifications – Alt-J – Tessellate". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 9 March 2023.