that my favorite track of the year is only my favorite track because i'm too dumb to read the labels on the 12" correctly: the al usher remix of señor coconut and his orchestra's cover of "behind the mask" is supposed to be played at 45rpm, unlike the a-side, which is clearly labeled 33rpm, and which lead me to think that the b-side was to be listened to similarly.

the villalobos remixed a-side is really really good, almost lives up to the constant hype, etc, but the al usher mix, wow. well, not so much when it's played too fast for it's own good (ie the speed at which it's nominally supposed to be played), but slowed down, pitched down, and able to breath? easily the prettiest, most confidently spacious and unfolding track i've heard in a long time.

• señor coconut and his orchestra – behind the mask (al usher remix) (slo-mo version)