Mirel Wagner - “Oak Tree” (Official Video)

Mirel Wagner return with her second album, When The Cellar Children See The Light Of Day. Rather than self-recording, it surprisingly finds Wagner working with dance producer Vladislav Delay, better known by his moniker Luomo, who crafted the 2000 house classic Vocalcity. That pairing might seem strange, but it’s actually a stroke of brilliance. Vocalcity’s greatest achievement was its truly genius sound design especially in regard to the human voice, and that’s exactly what Delay brings to Wagner’s stark, funereal sound. The first single, “Oak Tree,” is absolutely cavernous, as Wagner intones her dark tale, singing from the perspective of a buried corpse as multi-tracked vocals gently moan in the distance. It’s a devastating piece of music that nearly demands a listen on headphones. In addition to Delay, the album features contributions from Oscar winning composer Craig Armstrong. Watch the unsettling video (directed by Wagner and Aki Roukala).