Washington-born electronic duo Odesza have released a new single entitled “The Last Goodbye”, which is their first musical release in four years. The single was released on February 8th via Ninja Tune, and can be found on all available streaming services.
“The Last Goodbye” features the stunning vocal talents of American soul singer Bettye LaVette; in particular, a sample of “Let Me Down Easy”, showcasing her soaring voice and poignant lyrics paired with crisp, feverish synthesiser pads. The song strikes a balance between thoughtful placidity and being undeniably hypnotic and danceable, a factor aided by the inclusion of pumping beats and a grooving, lightly overdriven bassline that kicks in at the halfway mark, launching the tune from a hazy soundscape into a trancelike storm, punctuated by the thunder crack of the bass guitar. The Bellingham duo have also released a visualiser for the tune, which can be viewed down below.
According to Pitchfork, Odesza said of the song: “This song was born out of the concept of trying to bring these lasting, defining musical pieces like the 1965 release of ‘Let Me Down Easy’ by Bettye LaVette into a modern and contemporary electronic setting…The idea of bringing two worlds together, that at first seem distant, has always been something we’ve been drawn to. It was an absolute honor to be able to work with Bettye’s voice over the course of writing the track. She’s able to convey emotion with her vocal work unlike any other. To date, this has been one of the more fulfilling songs we’ve had the chance to work on as artists. We hope everyone who listens enjoys the track as much as we did making it.”
The duo’s last album A Moment Apart was released in 2017, and featured a host of different artists, such as singer Regina Spektor and soul singer-songwriter Leon Bridges. The album received reasonable reviews from critics, with Exclaim! saying of the record: “both sides complement one another and make for a fully realized album filled with beautiful soundscapes and dreamy vocals.” Sonically, whilst the record most certainly featured the wide, lush sound world that Odesza are perhaps known for, the features often determined the overall stylistic vibe in places; Bridges’ feature in “Across The Room” drives the song in a more soul-like direction, and Sasha Alex Sloan’s feature on “Falls” carries more than a hint of 2010s radio pop, featuring a dance drop with pitched-up vocals. You can listen to A Moment Apart, in addition to the rest of Odesza’s musical catalogue on all streaming services.
In 2020, the group released Bronson, a collaborative album with Australian producer Golden Features. Unlike A Moment Apart, this was a purely collaborative work between Odesza and Golden Features as Bronson, with the addition of featured vocalists such as lau.ra and Gallant.
