Tessellate (song)
| "Tessellate" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Alt-J | ||||
| from the album An Awesome Wave | ||||
| Released | 13 July 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:02 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Charlie Andrew | |||
| Alt-J singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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[edit]
A music video to accompany the release of "Tessellate" was first released on YouTube on 9 July 2012.[1] The video was directed by Ben Newbury[2] 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[edit]
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.[3] English indie folk band Mumford & Sons also covered the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 25 September 2012;[4] their version was included on the compilation album BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge 2013.
Media usage[edit]
The song is used as the opening theme song to the anime series Ingress.[5]
Track listing[edit]
| 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 |
Credits and personnel[edit]
- Lead vocals – Alt-J (∆)
- Producers – Charlie Andrew
- Lyrics – Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Gwilym Sainsbury, Thom Green
- Label: Infectious
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2012–13) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[7] | 74 |
| Canada Rock (Billboard)[8] | 46 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] | 120 |
| UK Indie (OCC)[10] | 6 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] | 43 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] | 19 |
| US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[13] | 33 |
Certifications[edit]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[14] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[15] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[16] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history[edit]
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 13 July 2012[6] | Digital download |
References[edit]
- ^ alt-J - Tessellate [OFFICIAL VIDEO. YouTube
- ^ Agent's website director file on blackdogfilms.com Archived 15 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Corner, Lewis (5 July 2013). "Ellie Goulding confirms repackaged album 'Halcyon Days'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ^ "Mumford and Sons cover Alt-J's 'Tessellate' – listen". NME. Time Inc. UK. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ^ Ressler, Karen (26 September 2018). "English Rock Band Alt-J Performs Theme Song for Ingress Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b iTunes - Music - Tessellate (Remixes) - EP by Alt-J (∆)
- ^ "Alt-J – Tessellate" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ "alt-J Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update 28.07.2012 (wk29)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ "alt-J Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ "alt-J Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ "alt-J Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Alt-J – Tessellate". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American single certifications – Alt-J – Tessellate". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 9 March 2023.