Santogold + Diplo = The Clash (“Guns of Brooklyn”)

Yes, Santogold sounds an awful lot like Tegan and Sara, especially on her hit single, “LES Artistes.” But this collaboration is pretty nice. Diplo maintain the spirit of The Clash’s original, “Guns of Brixton,” but infuses it with dark echoes, stuttering snares, and an overall hyper-dub workout. Santogold sounds nasal and semi-tuneless, and her voice is way back in the mix, but it works all the same. I’m not sure if this is really due to the thrill of hearing this song covered, though, instead of the actual talent involved. Let’s compare:

Guns of Brooklyn