This year sees the tenth anniversary of Oakland label Royal Oakie Records, and to mark the occasion they’re putting together a compilation of exclusive tracks from across their roster. With new collaborations, b-sides, and unreleased outtakes, the release digs into the Royal Oakie archives in search of the label’s spirit, serving as an introduction for those unfamiliar while offering long-time fans something fresh too.
So far tracks by the likes of Zeb Zaitz, Shadowgraphs and Deep Ellum have been unveiled, as well as Oliver Ray’s ‘Best Game in Town’ featuring the one and only Patti Smith. Today we’re delighted to share ‘here 4 u (remix)’, the latest song from the release by the Bay Area’s Credit Electric. Led by Ryan LoPilato, the outfit are gearing up to release their new album out of love in the face of a shadow next month, so their addition here is both retrospective and a sign of things to come.
An alternate version of a single first released late in 2020, ‘here 4 u (remix)’, is a languorous folk number which unfurls with languid ease. A honeyed image of heartbreak which simmers with understated confidence, slinking through the shadows of rock bottom and finding strange warmth there. “The record plays on repeat / singing something about self defeat,” sings lead LoPilato. “Who I’ve been looking sideways down the hall / thinking I’m the luckiest of all / because the more I have the further I’ll fall.”
