i’ve been brought up on a mix of disco and sentimental rock, thanks to my mother and the fact that we were so isolated and always two steps behind the rest of the world; from grace jones to pink floyd; i still know most of the lyrics from the bee gees off by heart (not the best thing to admit, i know) but then my father had this thing for country ballads which is possibly why that looping sound still strikes a chord…
it maybe a southern hemisphere / first-world, third-world thing but i’m generally allergic to everything australian, especially music wise - except perhaps dead can dance and this debut 2012 band lowlakes…that voice, have you ever? doing a cover of fever ray from the knife.
as a dedicated peter gabriel fan, it’s a dangerously disloyal thing to say but this version truly captures the soul of the song for me.
whatever she sings is always beautiful, and full of flavour…cassandra does neil young. reserve only for romantic and inebriated, sentimental summer nights…
i had such an alphaville crush, to the point of dying my hair black (ultra-revolutionary for a schoolboy in small town south africa at the time). i’ve always liked covers, they let you reminisce anew and ane brun’s scandinavian folksy version seems like a more grown up thing now, luckily i’m already blond.
james blake does a thrilling feist cover.
