"Velvet" is the second single by The Big Pink

The Big Pink

The Big Pink is an English electro-rock duo comprising multi-instrumentalists Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell. The duo signed to the 4AD label in 2009, and won the prestigious NME Philip Hall Radar Award for best new act...

, and their first single with the 4AD

4AD

4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...

 label. "Velvet" was released as a digital download and on 7" vinyl on April 20, 2009, and was later included on their debut album A Brief History of Love

A Brief History of Love

A Brief History of Love is the debut album from British electro-rock duo The Big Pink. The album was released on September 14, 2009 on 4AD. The Big Pink signed with 4AD in February 2009, and won the prestigious NME Philip Hall Radar Award for best new act. The band were also named as "one of the...

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 legendary producer Alan Moulder

Alan Moulder

Alan Moulder is one of Britain's premier alternative rock record producers. He has worked with such artists as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Elastica, Gary Numan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Curve, Ride, Lush and My Bloody Valentine, Lostprophets, Shihad, Ivyrise and Placebo, as well as with many American...

. The 7" single features the exclusive B-side "An Introduction to Awareness," while the 12" single features a cover version of Otis Redding

Otis Redding

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...

's 1964 song "These Arms of Mine."

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...

 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 #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

Gang Gang Dance

Gang Gang Dance is an American experimental music band based in Manhattan, New York City. The band is known for its distinctive sound which features synthesized electronics and percussion, plus the varied vocal styles of singer Lizzi Bougatsos...

 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

Lykke Li

Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson , better known by her stage name Lykke Li , is a Swedish singer-songwriter. Her music often blends elements of pop, indie rock and electronic; various instruments can also be found in her songs, including violins, synthesizers, tambourines, trumpets, saxophones and cellos...

 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
   Otis Redding
   Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
   
    cover) – 2:37

Remixes

• "Velvet" (BDG Remix by Gang Gang Dance
  Gang Gang Dance
  Gang Gang Dance is an American experimental music band based in Manhattan, New York City. The band is known for its distinctive sound which features synthesized electronics and percussion, plus the varied vocal styles of singer Lizzi Bougatsos...
  
  ), 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"
   • Produced by The Big Pink.
   • Lauren Jones – vocals.
   • Akiko Matsuura – drums.
   • Engineered by Jimmy Robertson.
   • Mixed by Alan Moulder
     Alan Moulder
     Alan Moulder is one of Britain's premier alternative rock record producers. He has worked with such artists as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Elastica, Gary Numan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Curve, Ride, Lush and My Bloody Valentine, Lostprophets, Shihad, Ivyrise and Placebo, as well as with many American...
     
      at Assault and Battery.
   • Recorded at The Big Pink and at Miloco Garden, London.
2. "An Introduction to Awareness"
   • Produced and recorded by The Big Pink.
   • Mixed by Al O'Connell.
   • Recorded and mixed at The Big Pink.
     • Art direction and design by Vaughan Oliver
       Vaughan Oliver
       Vaughan Oliver is a British graphic designer based in Epsom, South of London. Oliver is most noted for his work with graphic design studios 23 Envelope and v23...
       
        and Chris Bigg at v23.
     • Photography by Marc Atkins at panoptika.net.

2010 release

• All music and vocals by Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell.

2. "Velvet" (Perversion)
   • Performed by Milo Cordell, Robbie Furze, Akiko Matsuura
     Akiko Matsuura
     Akiko Matsuura is a drummer and vocalist who is a member of the bands Pre and Comanechi. She also plays drums with The Big Pink and has a side project called Sperm Javelin.-References:...
     
     , and Daniel O'Sullivan
     Daniel O'Sullivan
     Daniel O'Sullivan is a multi-instrumentalist/composer from Manchester, England best known for playing in experimental art-rock bands Guapo, Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses, Ulver, Æthenor, Miracle and Mothlite....
     
     .
   • Produced, recorded, and mixed by The Big Pink.
3. "These Arms of Mine"
   • Written by Otis Redding.
   • Produced, recorded, and mixed by The Big Pink.
     • Art direction and design by Edward Quarmby.
     • Photography by Marc Atkins at panoptika.net.