Velvet (The Big Pink song)

"Velvet" is the second single by The Big Pink, and their first single with the 4AD label. "Velvet" was released as a digital download and on 7-inch vinyl on April 20, 2009, and was later included on their debut album A Brief History of Love in September 2009. "Velvet" was re-issued as a single on February 15, 2010. The song was self-produced by the band, and mixed by producer Alan Moulder. The 7-inch single features the exclusive B-side "An Introduction to Awareness", while the 12-inch single features a cover version of Otis Redding's 1964 song "These Arms of Mine".

Pitchfork Media described "Velvet" as "undeniably immense, but it's a tribute to the Big Pink's skill and maturity that it still manages to sound intimate," and awarded the track a 7 out of 10 rating. In August 2009, "Velvet" was included on Pitchfork's Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s list, voted in at number 500. On Pitchfork's end-of-the-year Top 100 Tracks of 2009 list, "Velvet" was voted at #42.

A 7-minute remix of "Velvet" by Gang Gang Dance followed the original single release in May 2009 as an online-streaming single. Remixes by Mount Kimbie and Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid (producers for Fever Ray) were also commissioned.

The song was commonly covered by Swedish artist Lykke Li during her 2011 Wounded Rhymes Tour.

Track listing

 * 7" vinyl (AD 2915) and download
 * 1) "Velvet" – 4:15
 * 2) "An Introduction to Awareness" – 4:22


 * 2010 12" vinyl re-issue (BAD 3X09) and download
 * 1) "Velvet" – 4:15
 * 2) "Velvet" (Perversion) – 3:46
 * 3) "These Arms of Mine" (Otis Redding cover) – 2:37


 * Remixes
 * "Velvet" (BDG Remix by Gang Gang Dance), 6:50 – available as a free download on the band's website in May 2009, and later included on a one-sided/etched pink-and-black-coloured 12" single with limited edition vinyl pressings of A Brief History of Love in September 2009.
 * "Velvet" (Mount Kimbie Remix), 3:12 – available on a 4AD promo CD-R of "Velvet" remixes, and also included on the band's Japanese EP This Is Our Time in June 2009.
 * "Velvet" (Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid Remix), 4:01 – also available on a promo CD-R of "Velvet" remixes, and as one of three exclusive bonus tracks featured on the Japanese pressing of A Brief History of Love.

2009 release

 * All music and vocals by Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell.
 * 1) "Velvet"
 * 2) * Produced by The Big Pink.
 * 3) * Lauren Jones – vocals.
 * 4) * Akiko Matsuura – drums.
 * 5) * Engineered by Jimmy Robertson.
 * 6) * Mixed by Alan Moulder at Assault and Battery.
 * 7) * Recorded at The Big Pink and at Miloco Garden, London.
 * 8) "An Introduction to Awareness"
 * 9) * Produced and recorded by The Big Pink.
 * 10) * Mixed by Al O'Connell.
 * 11) * Recorded and mixed at The Big Pink.
 * Art direction and design by Vaughan Oliver and Chris Bigg at v23.
 * Photography by Marc Atkins at panoptika.net.

2010 release

 * All music and vocals by Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell.
 * 1) "Velvet" (Perversion)
 * 2) * Performed by Milo Cordell, Robbie Furze, Akiko Matsuura, and Daniel O'Sullivan.
 * 3) * Produced, recorded, and mixed by The Big Pink.
 * 4) "These Arms of Mine"
 * 5) * Written by Otis Redding.
 * 6) * Produced, recorded, and mixed by The Big Pink.
 * Art direction and design by Edward Quarmby.
 * Photography by Marc Atkins at panoptika.net.