R.E.M. share unreleased song "Fascinating" to benefit Bahamas hurricane relief

R.E.M. have shared a previously unreleased song, “Fascinating,” which was from the Reveal sessions and proceeds benefit relief and recovery efforts in the Bahamas where Hurricane Dorian devastated many of the islands two weeks ago. The song was recorded in the Bahamas in 2004 at Nassau’s Compass Point Studios. Michael Stipe says “Fascinating” was his favorite from the Reveal sessions, but R.E.M. decided that the lush ballad didn’t fit with the spare vibe of the album, and was cut last minute. “It’s really beautiful,” bassist/keyboardist Mike Mills said. “It has a flute, oboe arrangement, but it made the record too long…and something had to go.”

“Fascinating” is now available as a download starting at $2, and all bandcamp proceeds go to Mercy Corps. “I have been fortunate to spend many weeks working and playing in the Bahamas, making friends and lots of music there,” says Mills. “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.” You can listen to the song below.

In other R.E.M. news, the band have a deluxe 25th anniversary reissue of Monster on the way.