VARIOUS ARTISTS
NEW WAVE DONUT
WAX DONUT RECORDS
This is an intriguing idea, current punk and metal bands paying tribute to late 1970s and 1980s New Wave classics. Of course, New Wave came along and basically shoved punk to one side. Punk morphed into something very different from England circa 1976 and part of that was due to New Wave. Interestingly, most New Wave bands were all influenced by Punk and the original DIY attitude. In many regards, this makes sense and should make for interesting listening.
Some of the covers work, while others are unrecognizable. The opening track, for example, βElectricityβ by Naw does not resemble the original by Orchestral Maneuvers In the Dark, while βWipesβ take on Gary Numan and Tubeway Armyβs βAre Friends Electric?β maintains the original melody and feel of the song while adding their own touches to the song. It works beautifully and should have been the template for the album. βNawβ is not a bad song, but it really is not a cover. Bovine Nightmares (who are signed to Wax Donut Records) do a great and original cover of βHere Comes The Rain Againβ (Eurythmics). It is a dramatic brooding version of the song and while diverting from the original, it is a very interesting interpretation of the classic.
Glose does a great cover of Tears For Fearsβ βEverybody Wants To Rule The Worldβ. The guitars replace the keyboards, and it makes for a very aggressive and explosive cover. It certainly brings out the anger of the song. Basement Familyβs version of Ministryβs pop hit βWork For Loveβ makes it sound like a very dark Ministry song. Perhaps this is how Ministry envisioned the song.
Not all songs work as well as hoped. Night Goat (Bovine Nightmaresβ label companion) take on Siouxsie and The Banshees βBring Me The Head Of The Preacher Manβ, like βElectricityβ, is not so much a cover but sounds like an original song by Night Goat. Again, not a bad thing, but it is clearly a very loose interpretation.
Cover versions and tribute albums are always well intended and when they work, they work beautifully. This works on some levels and in other areas it falls a bit short. However, fans of the bands will love the individual bands reimagining these classic and iconic songs.
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – NEW WAVE DONUT
Aaron Badgley