The Chainsmokers’ 2022 record So Far So Good found the EDM duo embracing a distilled version of their usual thing—no features, fewer bells and whistles, and a more mature approach to the themes that had preoccupied their output up to that point. It was hailed as a major step in their artistic growth and, with a lack of the usual collaborative efforts (for the most part), a more cohesive vision of what makes Drew Taggart and Alex Pall special as music makers in their own right. Later the same year, they put out a lo-fi version of these personal songs, which made them even more intimate. The result is a Chainsmokers record that sounded like nothing they’d done before. While the original mixes of So Far So Good mostly eschewed club bangers and massive drops, the lo-fi versions don’t punch at all. Instead, they throb with warmth and washy synths that sound about as close as one would expect to hear on a Chainsmokers ambient record. Gone are the driving drums of lead single “High”, replaced by a gentler, more reflective atmosphere, and the ‘80s pop of “iPad” becomes all pulse and muted vocals, creating a melancholic dream. “I Love You” gets pared down to almost nothing, turning into something like a romantic meditation. The original version of So Far So Good revealed another side to The Chainsmokers, in both vibe and songwriting—it seemed like they’d left the sometimes near-nihilism of their hard-partying youth in the rearview mirror. But the lo-fi remixes peel back yet more layers, showing a dynamic range by going almost to the opposite extreme from their early days. It’s a thoughtful set that opts for self-reflection and stillness instead of the club.