I originally featured Alex Clare’s “Treading Water” last June, with the song later landing on my list of the Top 100 Tracks of 2011.

Unfortunately, neither “Treading Water” nor the British singer-songwriter’s debut album, The Lateness Of The Hour, was available in the U.S. at the time of either of those writings. Thankfully, another of Clare’s tunes, “Too Close,” has since taken off as the soundtrack to a Microsoft commercial, and I imagine the Stateside attention must have spurred the release of The Lateness Of The Hour here this week.

Then as now, “Treading Water” is the tune that deserves for your attention (plus, I had a great headline). While much attention has been given to Diplo and Switch’s involvement with The Lateness Of The Hour, “Treading Water” is entirely the work of producer Mike Spencer (Emeli Sandé’s “Heaven,” Diana Vickers’ “Once”). Spencer also handled additional production on other tracks on Clare’s debut, including “Too Close,” so his role is not to be diminished.

I love the genre-blending at play on “Treading Water,” with Clare’s soulful delivery on a bed of melodic dubstep (yes, it exists!) and an intro that’s a vibraphone take on Tom Petty’s “Free Falling.”

Purchase Alex Clare – “Treading Water” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.