It’s been a tough year (is something we’re a bit too used to saying now). So, here is an appropriately gloomy reimagining of a Radiohead classic. Take a listen to Creep (Very 2021 Rmx) from Thom Yorke.

We’re fans of a good remix here at Synchedin. Back in May, we enjoyed angelic, soothing remixes from London Grammar, put together for the Calm meditation app. But, this article focusses on a track that is less likely to give you peace of mind. So, if you aren’t particularly a fan of music that promotes a… low mood, shall we say – this is your fair warning.

If you’re unfamiliar with Creep by Radiohead, you’ve either been living under a rock, or have had a disgustingly easy, pain-free life. The musical encapsulation of youthful angst and self-torture has been ubiquitous for decades. Now, the track has undergone a (more) melancholic makeover by Radiohead frontman, Thom Yorke.

Creep (Very 2021 Rmx) takes the original anguish of Creep, and stretches it out a bit for every year since it was first released in 1992. The feeling of maturity comes by way of the choice of acoustic guitar over distorted electric, sluggishly strumming its way through the 9 minutes of woe.

2021 edges into the mix with new digital nods. Yorke’s vocals are weighed down with a disturbing latency effect in places, giving the feeling of a machine about to bite the dust. Haunting synths beam into the production around the three-minute mark, amping up the modernity of the song. Heavy, fuzzing bass synth gives Creep (Very 2021 Rmx) its mighty foreboding nature, whilst sci-fi leads provide a high level of uneasiness.

If you’re a fan of the catharsis of the original, this remix is the perfect soundtrack for sitting down, thinking about the wider world, and wondering what the hell is going on.