Originally a track from Stevens' sixth studio album, The Age of Adz, remixes of the song were released in 2012 and 2017, respectively.
As the first track of The Age of Adz, "Futile Devices" is described as a combination of "piano and acoustic guitar" and "tippy-toed grace".
[4] In 2017, a new remix of the song by American producer Doveman was commissioned for the romantic drama film Call Me by Your Name.
[6] Doveman's remix was physically released on limited edition 10-inch vinyl in February 2018 alongside the songs "Mystery of Love" and "Visions of Gideon", all three of which were featured on the Call Me by Your Name soundtrack album.
[5] In his review of The Age of Adz for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis praised the song's "delicate guitar figure" as well as its "beautiful Simon and Garfunkel-ish melody".