Death in Midsummer

Album: Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared? (2019)
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Songfacts®:

  • The Russian Revolution is the name given to the two revolutions of March and November 1917 which began with the overthrow of Emperor Nicholas II and the old regime and ended with the establishment of a state run by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks. In between the two revolutions, there were massed armed demonstrations in St. Petersburg encouraged by the Bolsheviks, demanding "All Power to the Soviets."

    This anthemic song was inspired by a photograph found by Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox in a book with the caption "Revolution In The Streets of St. Petersburg, July 1917." The photo shows figures of people running away from piles of bodies.
  • Bradford Cox told Billboard that he recorded the vocals for this song around 230 times. "And one day I got it, and it was done," he added. "When it's right, it's right."
  • The song drives along on a lilting harpsichord figure played by Cate Le Bon. The Welsh singer-songwriter is also listed as co-producer. Cate Le Bon has also worked with Manic Street Preachers ("4 Lonely Roads", "Let's Go to War") and The Chemical Brothers ("Born In The Echoes ").

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