U.K. house duo Utah Saints knew they wanted R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe to contribute to their new album, so they gave him a call. What transpired was a taped one-hour conversation, which led to the inspiration for four tracks on the new album, "Two," due July 30 from Nettwerk Records, according to a spokesperson for the label.
Vocal snippets from Stipe's conversation have been cut, manipulated and rearranged, and are featured prominently in the album's opening track, "Sun," as well as "Punk Club," "Rhinoceros," and "Wiggedy Wack." In all, about six minutes of the free-form discussion were used for the album. Some of the vocals have been spliced in such a way so as to give the impression that Stipe is singing, the spokesperson says.
The first single from the 14-track "Two" will be "Power to the Beats," which is based around a vocal sample from Public Enemy's Chuck D. The rapper, however, actually went into the studio to work with the duo.
"Two" marks Utah Saints' first album since their self-titled 1992 PolyGram debut, which featured the popular dance track "Something Good," built around a Kate Bush sample.
Vocal snippets from Stipe's conversation have been cut, manipulated and rearranged, and are featured prominently in the album's opening track, "Sun," as well as "Punk Club," "Rhinoceros," and "Wiggedy Wack." In all, about six minutes of the free-form discussion were used for the album. Some of the vocals have been spliced in such a way so as to give the impression that Stipe is singing, the spokesperson says.
The first single from the 14-track "Two" will be "Power to the Beats," which is based around a vocal sample from Public Enemy's Chuck D. The rapper, however, actually went into the studio to work with the duo.
"Two" marks Utah Saints' first album since their self-titled 1992 PolyGram debut, which featured the popular dance track "Something Good," built around a Kate Bush sample.
Up for Discussion