Tessellate (song)

"Tessellate"
Single by Alt-J
from the album An Awesome Wave
Released13 July 2012
Recorded2011
Genre
Length3:02
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Joe Newman
  • Gus Unger-Hamilton
  • Gwilym Sainsbury
  • Thom Green
Producer(s)Charlie Andrew
Alt-J singles chronology
"Breezeblocks"
(2012) 		"Tessellate"
(2012) 		"Something Good"
(2012)

"Tessellate" is a song by English indie rock band alt-J from their debut studio album, An Awesome Wave (2012). The song was written by Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Gwilym Sainsbury and Thom Green and produced by Charlie Andrew. It was originally released on 13 October 2011 as a double A-side single with “Bloodflood”, before being released separately on 13 July 2012 as the album's third single.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Tessellate" was first released on YouTube on 9 July 2012.[1] The video was directed by Ben Newbury[2] and is a reworking of the painting The School of Athens by Raphael, using 21st century characters in a room similar to the painting's background (Panthéon, in Paris). One of the characters at the very beginning of the clip is wearing a printed T-shirt of the painting.

Covers

In 2013, "Tessellate" was covered by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding on the deluxe edition of Halcyon Days, the reissue of her second studio album, Halcyon.[3] English indie folk band Mumford & Sons also covered the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 25 September 2012;[4] their version was included on the compilation album BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge 2013.

Media usage

The song is used as the opening theme song to the anime series Ingress.[5]

The song has been featured in the soundtrack of the first episode of the 2024 TV series Day of the Jackal.

Track listing

Digital download[6]
No.TitleLength
1."Tessellate"3:02
2."Tessellate" (Live At the Africa Centre)4:26
3."Tessellate" (Dam Mantle Remix)6:17
4."Tessellate" (Anstam Remix)3:58
5."Tessellate" (Marlais Remix)3:53

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart (2012–13) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[7] 74
Canada Rock (Billboard)[8] 46
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] 120
UK Indie (OCC)[10] 6
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] 43
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 19
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[13] 33

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[14] Gold 35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom 13 July 2012[6] Digital download

References

  1. ^ alt-J - Tessellate [OFFICIAL VIDEO. YouTube
  2. ^ Agent's website director file on blackdogfilms.com Archived 15 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Corner, Lewis (5 July 2013). "Ellie Goulding confirms repackaged album 'Halcyon Days'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Mumford and Sons cover Alt-J's 'Tessellate' – listen". NME. Time Inc. UK. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  5. ^ Ressler, Karen (26 September 2018). "English Rock Band Alt-J Performs Theme Song for Ingress Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  6. ^ a b iTunes - Music - Tessellate (Remixes) - EP by Alt-J (∆)
  7. ^ "Alt-J – Tessellate" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  8. ^ "alt-J Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  9. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update 28.07.2012 (wk29)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  11. ^ "alt-J Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  12. ^ "alt-J Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  13. ^ "alt-J Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  14. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  15. ^ "British single certifications – Alt-J – Tessellate". British Phonographic Industry.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – Alt-J – Tessellate". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 9 March 2023.