“Far Away,” Swedish singer-songwriter José González’s contribution to the soundtrack of Jonny Greenwood’s favorite new video game, Red Dead Redemption, still sits safely among my favorite sad-bastard jams of the year so far, though I’ve yet to sink my teeth into the forthcoming full-length from his newly reunited group, Junip, and take stock of this year’s nylon-stringed competition. Stripping away the studio version‘s reverb-drenched vocals for a rooftop performance on a sunny day (via SKOA), González offers an almost-equally hopeless take on the tune, prefacing with an apropos “sorry I missed your call” shout-out to a friend.
González isn’t only proficient in gloom, thankfully, as the latest off Junip’s Fields, “Always,” a welcome upbeat summer groove is a great way to lift your spirits after its decidedly forlorn predecessor. Watch “Far Away” and chill out with “Always” below:
“Always”
“Far Away” (Live on a rooftop with Zane Lowe)