R.E.M. share unreleased track “Fascinating” to raise funds for hurricane relief in the Bahamas
R.E.M. has shared an unreleased song to help raise funds to benefit hurricane relief in the Bahamas. “Fascinating” was recorded by Michael Stipe and Mike Mills at Compass Point—which is in Nassau, Bahamas—and is a re-recorded version of a song that was originally intended for release on 2001’s Reveal. The song was cut from the album at the last minute
“It’s really beautiful,” Mike Mills told R.E.M. biographer David Buckley about the song. “It has a flute, oboe arrangement, but it made the record too long … and something had to go.”
“Fascinating” is available to download on Bandcamp for a $2 minimum purchase, and proceeds will go to MercyCorps’ emergency response efforts.
“I have been fortunate to spend many weeks working and playing in the Bahamas, making friends and lots of music there,” Mills said in a statement. “It breaks my heart to see the damage wrought by Hurricane Dorian. Please help us and Mercy Corps do what we can to alleviate the suffering caused by this catastrophe.”
Hear “Fascinating” below.
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