It’s been almost two years since Marco Niemerski (a.k.a. Tensnake) released his critically acclaimed, chart-topping single “Coma Cat” on Permanent Vacation. Since that time, the record’s been picked up by Defected, earning Niemerski a wave of attention that’s seen him tour the world. Yet, despite this, Niemerski’s subsequent releases, such as this year’s “Something About You,” haven’t lived up to the hype that he’s attracted. Seemingly in a bid to get back on the horse, Niemerski’s latest single, “Need Your Lovin” (on Permanent Vacation), revisits his “Coma Cat” period by way of a re-release of that single’s strongest b-side with an all-new remix by mysterious duo Tiger & Woods.

The story of “Need Your Lovin” is a strange one. It sounds like a vocal version of “Coma Cat,” with the full sound palette and aesthetic sensibilities that made it’s a-side big sister great. In some ways, it’s the better song, as “Coma Cat” appropriated liberally (most famously from Anthony and the Camp’s “What I LIke”), while “Need Your Lovin” merely simulated. The resulting effect is a fully realized vocal track that fits nicely into the continuum of mid-’80s US garage. A tough, D-Train-like synth bass propels a Gwen Guthrie-like vocal through a concrete box of hand claps, snare drums, and floating synth pads. This contrasts starkly with “Coma Cat,” which shares an almost identical song structure with its source material.

“Need Your Lovin (Tiger & Woods Remix)” comes with three tracks: the original version (which was only available digitally before), the dub version (previously available digitally and on the 12″), and the all-new Tiger & Woods Remix. Of these, really only the new remix warrants discussion, as it’s the sole force keeping the two-year old release contemporary. True to form for Tiger & Woods, the duo’s remix is a complete rework of the song. Loopy, psychedelic, and employing a full-on barrage of filters, Tiger & Woods’ version takes the ’80s-garage groove and converts it into something that sounds almost like it belongs on early-period Roule or Crydamoure. Like some tasteful nouveau French touch, the original track becomes twisted and distorted through banks of delay and clever editing tricks that morph the vocals into a mush of hypnotic glossolalia. The remix does its job—it makes the track somewhat relevant for a contemporary dancefloor, but, then again, in the world of dance music, two years is almost a lifetime. Since the days of “Coma Cat,” we’ve progressed into a new period of bizarre hybridity characterized by bold (but not always successful) experiments like Niemerski’s own recent 2-step remix of Mark E‘s “Call Me.” As it is then, “Need Your Lovin” is a great track with a good remix, albeit one that was unfortunately released two years too late.