Without further ado.
"Stand on the Word (Larry Levan
mix)", by The Joubert Singers. If "The Word" was regularly
presented with this level of disco exactitude, many more souls would be saved.
"Lay Lady Lay", by David T
Walker. It has been said that Bob Dylan songs sound better when they are sung
by anybody other than Bob Dylan. But is it possible that they sound better when
they are not sung by anybody at all? This is Exhibit A. Bonus: album cover of
the month.
"Trouble", by Father John Misty.
Father John (not his real name), as you already know, had a previous life as
drummer with Fleet Foxes. Unsurprisingly, then, he has a voice that, ahem,
pours down like silver. I confess to having not entirely warm feelings towards
his solo records (the phrase "too much information" come to mind),
but here he takes on a Cat Stevens song and nails it to the wall.
"Eighteen is Over the Hill", by
Veronica Falls. If there's one thing I have learned in all my years on this
planet, it is that West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band songs make for quality cover versions. (See also this, a song also done by some of Dunedin's finest,
but which doesn't seem to be on the 'Tube.)
"Motherless Child", by Sweetwater.
Coming to you from the deepest recesses of 1968 Los Angeles. Warning: may
contain traces of flute.
"Dandelion Seeds", by July. As
above, but substitute London for Los Angeles and Some Serious Drug Intestion
for flutes.
"Planet Caravan", by Brownout.
From an album entitled "Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath". I think you
can see where this is going.
"Never Thought I'd See the Day (L-Vis
1990 Sunrise Edit)", by Sade. I figure that if it's cool for Lee Ranaldo
to be a fan of Sade, I can probably get away with it. Soundcloud comment of the month: "holy damn, im so in
love".
"Canto Della Liberta (Prins Thomas
Version)", by 3rd Face. I have no
idea what's going on here. Sometimes you just gotta roll with it. The incessant
handclapping that kicks the thing off suggests that Steve Reich may have
wandered into the studio. It's probably just my imagination. Alternative title:
shouting can be therapeutic.
"Salka Gets Her Hopes Up (Mark McGuire
Remix)", by Yumi Zouma. We have a lot of time round our way for Yumi
Zouma. We also have a lot of time for the "new age" stylings
of Mark McGuire. So of course if you put 'em together it's probably going to
press our buttons. Consider them pressed. (Coincidentally to the above, there
also seems to be a Steve Reichian presence here, but this time it's "Music
for 18 Musicians" that's getting the nod.)
"Karada To Uta Dake No Kankei",
by Hi-Posi. So Japanese pop music in the nineties wasn't just Pizzicato 5? Who
knew? Oh, wait, there was also Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. And, uh, Boredoms?
"I Scare Myself", by Thomas
Dolby. And here we are back in the High Eighties world of Thomas Dolby, a
musician who was, if I recall, seen as a bit of a novelty act (his adopted name
might not have helped) when he was first around, but who, in the ensuing
decades, has revealed himself as someone who May Have Actually Been Onto Something. I also have
a version of this song (which was written by Dan Hicks) sung by Renee Geyer, but the wandering bass and Spanish guitar send this one to
the next level.
"Beneath The Sea", by Se Delan.
In the face of a song as dramatic and powerful as this, the best thing I can do
is shut up and get out of the way.
"La Onde Guder Hvile", by Weh. I
might just stay out of the way a little longer. (Except I can't, entirely: is
this acoustic death metal? What's with that record cover?)
"Dark Destroyer Dub", by King
Tubby. Charging out of the gates with a blast of the Hammond B-3, this may or
may not be a dub reggae take on "Norwegian Wood".
