FEATURE:
Changing the Tradition
The Art and Value of the Covers and Tribute Album
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ON 6th October…
IN THIS ILLUSTRATION: Radiohead’s poster for Everything in Its Right Place
a new album from The Anchoress (Catherine Anne Davies) arrives. Versions, as you might guess from the title, is a covers album. Someone who is brilliant at interpreting other artists’ songs – I wonder if she’ll put a Kate Bush cover on another album?! -, I am excited to see how she tackles tracks from a wide range of legends. I shall get to that detail soon. I am going to go on a slight tangent and discuss legendary artists and why there are no more cover albums dedicated to them. I have been thinking about boygenius (Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers) and they would perfectly cover some Radiohead classics. OK Computer’s Climbing Up the Walls – which The Anchoress includes on Versions and has released as a single – seems perfect for them in a wonderful way. More on that in a bit. Produced and mixed (bar one track) by Davies, this is the iconic The Anchoress putting her stamp on some awesome songs. Here are some more details:
“The Anchoress (aka Catherine Anne Davies) releases her long awaited album of modern reworkings, ‘Versions’ this autumn, via the recently relaunched Drowned in Sound label. This physical release compiles 10 re-imaginings of songs by the likes of Depeche Mode, The Cure, Nirvana, Nico and Halsey, all produced and mixed by Davies.
The album will appear on limited edition Eco-Mix vinyl (limited to 1000 copies only) and beautiful signed gatefold CD, with 12 page full colour booklet and exclusive additonal bonus track.
As Davies explains of the choice to press on Eco-Mix vinyl, “each record pressed will be a completely unique combination, reworked from leftover wax pellets which feels very apt for the concept of the album, as well as being a more eco-friendly method of production. I love the idea that, like the collection of songs being pieces of other people’s imaginations, this record is quite literally made up of unused parts of other records”.
I am always interested in covers album. Whether it is an artist like The Anchoress taking a selection of songs from other artists, or a compilation of cover songs about a legendary band or artist, it can be hard getting it right. Versions is going to be a great album! It can be very hard getting the tone of an artist just so. Covering a song and making it your own. A new compilation, AngelHeaded Hipster, is musicians tackling songs by Marc Bolan. He died forty-five years ago, so there is this anniversary tribute. You can get the album here. I love Marc Bolan, so I think it will be hard for any of the artists included to match the original songs. Bolan was this poetic and unique artist whose delivery made the words not only believable but fantastical and mystical – something that is watered down and made overwrought my others. It is a good tribute, though I suspect there will be few highlights. I have thought about the artists out there who have not really been covered much or had a tribute album. I did mention Radiohead. The Anchoress tackles Climbing Up the Walls. As the band have been recording for over three decades, it would be good to see a new album where artists cover their songs. There are definitely over artists who have not really been documented and explored through tribute/cover albums. Kate Bush springs to mind. I have been raising this for years. One where larger/better-known artists are in the frame – as opposed ones of unknown acts. Rather than it being a cash-in or opportunistic, it is a way for artists inspired by that act to pay tribute. Let’s hope a Radiohead one happens. Maybe a Blur album too. Madonna springs to mind. She is someone who has not had a tribute album made about her in recent years.
IN THIS PHOTO: Halsey
Halsey is one artist who The Anchoress covers for Versions. He song, The Tradition, is going to sound very different to the original. Whilst it may seem like an easy way of getting music out between original studio albums, it is actually very hard to nail a covers album! You have all these original songs that are very different that you have to make your own. Whether they are well-known songs or deeper cuts, fans of the artist you are covering will have their say. It does seem quite daunting, yet the artist making the album gets a chance to break away from their usual routine and sound and tackle something very different. It can also given them inspiration and impetus when it comes to a new album. Look at some of the best and most notable cover and tribute albums of all time and how they fared. If I were an artist, I would really like to do one myself! I do think that one really obvious benefit of a covers or tribute album is bringing attention to artists who might not be known to all. Whether hearing a range of artists put their stamp on tracks from a single artist or band, or when a single artist takes on songs from a range of artists, it can be really fascinating! Whether you know The Anchoress or not, I think Versions is going to be fascinating. Let’s hope that other artists do similarly and explore legends and newer artists alike. How many people, say, would put a Tom Waits or Steely Dan track alongside one from Taylor Swift or Charli XCX?! It is quite daring and brave, yet you can get new layers and insights about a track that started life very differently. Original studio albums are great, though I do love it when we get a really tantalising and promising…
TRIBUTE or covers album.