Gravity's Rainbow (song)
Encyclopedia
"Gravity's Rainbow" is a song by British act Klaxons
which appears on their album Myths of the Near Future
. It is named after Thomas Pynchon
's novel of the same name
. The song was first released on Angular Records
as a Double A-side
with "The Bouncer" in March 2006 and was limited to 500 copies on 7" vinyl only. In September 2006, it was released on 12" vinyl with three remixes of the track. It reached a peak position of number 35 on the UK Singles Chart
. A re-recorded version of the track was re-released in 2007, with a remix from Soulwax
, a new Erol Alkan
-produced track "Electrickery" and a live version of the track. For the re-release of "Gravity's Rainbow" the band reshot the music video.
There are two videos for this track, the original was shot in a basement using props belonging to the band members and took in total total 72 hours to complete. Interestingly (during the babies scene) in the original video an album cover from Frankie Valli
and his band the Four Seasons
is shown- Klaxons
later covered their track "The Night" as a b-side of their single It's Not Over Yet. The new version of Gravity's Rainbow was made to accompany the release of the new recording of the single and includes scenes reminiscent of those in the original. This version is also one of only two Klaxons
videos that feature their drummer Steffan Halperin.
The track has been covered by rave
veterans Kicks Like a Mule
, as well as The Central Band of the Royal British Legion
. Muse
performed a short instrumental version of the track at Wembley Stadium
on June 17, 2007.
12"
7"
Etched 7"
Klaxons
Klaxons are a British indie rock band, based in London. Following the release of numerous 7-inch singles on different independent record labels, as well as the success of previous singles "Magick" and "Golden Skans", the band released their debut album, Myths of the Near Future on 29 January 2007....
which appears on their album Myths of the Near Future
Myths of the Near Future (album)
Klaxons' French label Because released "As Above, So Below" as a limited edition clear vinyl 12" in November 2007. The 12" features two versions of the track, a French language version and a remix by Justice....
. It is named after Thomas Pynchon
Thomas Pynchon
Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, Jr. is an American novelist. For his most praised novel, Gravity's Rainbow, Pynchon received the National Book Award, and is regularly cited as a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature...
's novel of the same name
Gravity's Rainbow
Gravity's Rainbow is a postmodern novel written by Thomas Pynchon and first published on February 28, 1973.The narrative is set primarily in Europe at the end of World War II and centers on the design, production and dispatch of V-2 rockets by the German military, and, in particular, the quest...
. The song was first released on Angular Records
Angular Recording Corporation
Angular Recording Corporation is an independent record label originally based in New Cross, South East London. Set up in June 2003 by two ex-Goldsmiths College students, Joe Daniel and Joe Margetts, who reclaimed a local Ordnance Survey Triangulation Station and made it their first artefact: ARC 001...
as a Double A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
with "The Bouncer" in March 2006 and was limited to 500 copies on 7" vinyl only. In September 2006, it was released on 12" vinyl with three remixes of the track. It reached a peak position of number 35 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. A re-recorded version of the track was re-released in 2007, with a remix from Soulwax
Soulwax
Soulwax, headed by David and Stephen Dewaele, are an alternative rock/electronic band from Ghent, Belgium. Next to the Dewaele brothers, Soulwax consists of bassist Stefaan Van Leuven and drummer Steve Slingeneyer. They were first noticed after the release of their album Much Against Everyone's...
, a new Erol Alkan
Erol Alkan
Erol Alkan is a London-based electro DJ of Turkish Cypriot descent.-DJ and club promoter:In 1993, Erol Alkan started DJing in various Indie nightclubs in London....
-produced track "Electrickery" and a live version of the track. For the re-release of "Gravity's Rainbow" the band reshot the music video.
There are two videos for this track, the original was shot in a basement using props belonging to the band members and took in total total 72 hours to complete. Interestingly (during the babies scene) in the original video an album cover from Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
and his band the Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (group)
The Four Seasons are an American rock and pop band who became internationally successful in the mid-1960s. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has stated that the group was the most popular rock band before The Beatles...
is shown- Klaxons
Klaxons
Klaxons are a British indie rock band, based in London. Following the release of numerous 7-inch singles on different independent record labels, as well as the success of previous singles "Magick" and "Golden Skans", the band released their debut album, Myths of the Near Future on 29 January 2007....
later covered their track "The Night" as a b-side of their single It's Not Over Yet. The new version of Gravity's Rainbow was made to accompany the release of the new recording of the single and includes scenes reminiscent of those in the original. This version is also one of only two Klaxons
Klaxons
Klaxons are a British indie rock band, based in London. Following the release of numerous 7-inch singles on different independent record labels, as well as the success of previous singles "Magick" and "Golden Skans", the band released their debut album, Myths of the Near Future on 29 January 2007....
videos that feature their drummer Steffan Halperin.
The track has been covered by rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
veterans Kicks Like a Mule
Kicks Like a Mule
Kicks Like a Mule is a rave/electronic music duo consisting of Richard Russell and Nick Halkes. Their first single "The Bouncer" peaked at #7 in the UK Singles Chart when it was released in 1992...
, as well as The Central Band of the Royal British Legion
The Central Band of the Royal British Legion
The Central Band of the Royal British Legion is a concert band associated with the Royal British Legion.In 2004 it celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, marking sixty years of music making dating back to World War II...
. Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
performed a short instrumental version of the track at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on June 17, 2007.
Original Release
7"- "Gravity's Rainbow" – 2:37
- "The Bouncer" - 2:15
12"
- "Gravity's Rainbow" – 2:37
- "Gravity's Rainbow" (Van She remix)
- "Gravity's Rainbow" (Nightmoves remix)
- "Gravity's Rainbow" (To My Boy remix)
Re-release
CD- "Gravity's Rainbow" – 2:36
- "Gravity's Rainbow" (SoulwaxSoulwaxSoulwax, headed by David and Stephen Dewaele, are an alternative rock/electronic band from Ghent, Belgium. Next to the Dewaele brothers, Soulwax consists of bassist Stefaan Van Leuven and drummer Steve Slingeneyer. They were first noticed after the release of their album Much Against Everyone's...
remix)
7"
- "Gravity's Rainbow" – 2:36
- "Electrickery" produced by Erol AlkanErol AlkanErol Alkan is a London-based electro DJ of Turkish Cypriot descent.-DJ and club promoter:In 1993, Erol Alkan started DJing in various Indie nightclubs in London....
Etched 7"
- "Gravity's Rainbow" (Live in Glasgow)