MP3: The Dø – ‘Tightrope’ (Janelle Monaé Cover)

The unpredictability of covers is something you either love or loathe. I sit somewhere in the middle. The hit and miss nature of the process can sometimes agitate, but on occasion, as rare as it may appear – an artist or band can come along and through their authenticity and genuine respect deliver an impressive, self-assured reworking.

… Take The Dø’s cover of Janelle Monaé’s mighty ‘Tightrope’ for instance – an intense, 9-minute epilogue of roaring electronic guitars, smashing percussion and melancholic vocals (passionately delivered by lead singer Olivia). It begins subdued and downplayed, but gradually builds into a chaotic Indie-Pop/Jazz/Blues/Rock hybrid, that while starkly different from Monaé’s original – works refreshingly well.

(premiered via the Guardian)