"Since I Left You" is both the title track and third single from the debut album by Australian electronic music group The Avalanches, released in 2000 in Australia and internationally in 2001. The song and album are celebrated for their innovative, sample-based production, upbeat atmosphere, and emotional resonance.
Song and Album Overview
- Artist: The Avalanches
- Album: Since I Left You (2000)
- Genre: Electronic, Plunderphonics, Dance
- Length: 4:22 (song), 60:39 (album)
- Producers: Robbie Chater and Darren Seltmann (as Bobbydazzler)
- Notable Single Releases: "Electricity," "Frontier Psychiatrist," "Since I Left You," "Radio"
Production and Sampling
The Avalanches created "Since I Left You" and the rest of the album almost entirely from samples, with estimates ranging from 900 to over 3,500 individual snippets sourced from a vast array of vinyl records. The production process involved Chater and Seltmann working in near-identical home studios, exchanging tapes and building on each other's ideas. The song's chorus is built around a prominent sample from "Everyday" by The Main Attraction (1968), with additional samples from artists like Rose Royce, Tony Mottola, and Lamont Dozier123.
The duo initially did not keep track of their samples, assuming the album would have a limited release. However, the international success of the album required extensive sample clearance, resulting in some changes to the original tracklist for overseas editions12.
Style, Themes, and Lyrics
"Since I Left You" is a dance track with a warm, nostalgic feel, blending doo-wop harmonies, organs, flutes, and acoustic guitars3. The lyrics, sampled and rearranged, evoke the bittersweet feeling of moving on from a relationship:
"I’ve been trying, but I just can’t get you / Ever since the day I left you / Out of my mind"4.
Thematically, the song and album explore fleeting romances, infatuations, and the search for love, originally conceived as a loose concept album about a man chasing love around the world154. The repeated vocal loops at the song’s end emphasize the lingering impact of a breakup or separation, capturing a sense of longing and emotional escape54.
Critical Reception and Legacy
"Since I Left You" was acclaimed by critics for its joyous, sample-rich production and innovative approach to electronic music. The song and album received numerous accolades, including four ARIA Music Awards, and are frequently cited among the best releases of the 2000s1. The album reached the top 30 on the ARIA Albums Chart, number eight on the UK Albums Chart, and number ten on the US Top Electronic Albums chart1.
Music Video
The surreal music video, directed by Rob Leggatt and Leigh Marling, features two miners who discover a mysterious passage into a dance studio. The video won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video, further cementing the song’s cultural impact3.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | The Avalanches |
| Album | Since I Left You (2000) |
| Genre | Electronic, Plunderphonics, Dance |
| Key Sample | "Everyday" by The Main Attraction |
| Themes | Longing, fleeting romance, emotional escape |
| Notable Features | Extensive sampling (900–3,500 samples), upbeat yet bittersweet mood |
| Critical Acclaim | Multiple ARIA Awards, top 10 UK and US electronic charts, best-of-decade lists |
| Music Video | Surreal narrative, MTV Europe Music Award winner |
"Since I Left You" stands as a landmark in sample-based music, blending nostalgia, dance, and emotional storytelling into a joyous, genre-defining track135.
