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Not so long ago the cover version was a derided format, associated largely with manufactured acts devoid of their own ideas. In the current pop climate however, the cover has become an admired artform in itself - perhaps partly attributable to the likes of Mark Ronson's Version album, and the popularity of the Live Lounge format and its copycats.
Headless Heroes are a collection of musicians helmed by Eddie Bezalel, a New York A&R guru who tellingly had a hand in the Ronson project. He is joined by contributing producers Hugo Nicolson and David Holmes, blossoming vocalist Alela Diane and a clutch of instrumentalists with a combined collaboration history encompassing Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, Smashing Pumpkins and R.E.M. The tracklist steers away from the populist via well known cult classics by The Jesus and Mary Chain and Nick Cave, towards lesser known gems by Linda Perhacs and The Gentle Soul.
Diane - an upcoming talent discovered by Bezalel on MySpace - sits vocally between Dolores O'Riordan and PJ Harvey, and her contribution to the reworking of Juicy Lucy's Just One Time could easily be mistaken for the latter. The charming traditional folk of The North Wind Blew South (originally by Philamore Lincoln) and the disjointed moodiness injected into I Am Kloot's To You are both well executed variations, but the plain acoustic rendition of the Mary Chain's Just Like Honey strips the song bare of character.
While the collection is endearing and pleasant, it does not display the diversity of ideas already thrown successfully at the classics by Nouvelle Vague. The songs here may differ greatly from the originals, but they do not separate themselves well enough from one another.
What's left is a quality ensemble playing tracks already beloved in their original form. A concerted effort at some official Headless Heroes material however? Now that would really be something. --Keira Burgess
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
It wasn't that long ago that the prospect of an album offering an eclectic selection of cover versions would have sounded quite enticing to me, particularly if some of the participants were known to me. However there has been such a deluge of such things in recent years(Joy Division in bossa nova style anyone? Anybody in hillbilly style, bluegrass, reggae etc) that I now approach such concepts with caution. However, when I heard that Alela Diane was the singer on this album I couldn't resist as I'm a keen admirer of her "Pirate's Gospel" record.
Alela Diane(last name Menig), is usually described as a folk musician(although she has, prior to this, only recorded her own songs) and is supported by instrumentalists Josh Klinghoffer, Woody Jackson, Joey Waronker, Leo Abrahams and Gus Seyffert who have, apparently, worked with everyone from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beck to Smashing Pumpkins and REM. Headless Heroes, is the name that she, dance auteur David Holmes, New York A&R "guru" Eddie Bezalel (who worked on Mark Ronson's Versions) and Primal Scream producer Hugo Nicholson have chosen for the venture.
The Silence of Love doesn't sound particularly folky to me and(thank goodness)doesn't try force any particular style on the songs chosen. The song selection is certainly interesting and I found it a plus point that I knew only one of the songs(`Just Like Honey')in its original form.
The album kicks of strongly, if quirkily, with Daniel Johnston's `True Love Will Find You in the End' but doesn't truly hit it's stride until the arrival of Jackson C. Frank's magnificent `Blues Run The Game'(so instantly lovable that you'll feel you know it even if you don't) with other standouts being Nick Cave's `Nobody's Baby Now'(unmistakably his) and Pamela Polland's `See My Love' (recorded by the impossibly obscure Gentle Soul)which provides a fittingly climactic finish to the album(like Dusty Springfield belting out a Martha Reeves song, if that makes any sense).
If I had to criticise the album it's that, at times it is a little too restrained and tasteful, lacking the spark and bite that a `proper' band might have brought to the proceedings('Just Like Honey', for example, didn't quite live up to my expectations).
So, perhaps, not quite a perfect record but the excellent tracks more than make up for the merely good, with plenty to enjoy for both fans of the artist and soon-to-be-converts alike: recommended.
Alela Diane(last name Menig), is usually described as a folk musician(although she has, prior to this, only recorded her own songs) and is supported by instrumentalists Josh Klinghoffer, Woody Jackson, Joey Waronker, Leo Abrahams and Gus Seyffert who have, apparently, worked with everyone from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beck to Smashing Pumpkins and REM. Headless Heroes, is the name that she, dance auteur David Holmes, New York A&R "guru" Eddie Bezalel (who worked on Mark Ronson's Versions) and Primal Scream producer Hugo Nicholson have chosen for the venture.
The Silence of Love doesn't sound particularly folky to me and(thank goodness)doesn't try force any particular style on the songs chosen. The song selection is certainly interesting and I found it a plus point that I knew only one of the songs(`Just Like Honey')in its original form.
The album kicks of strongly, if quirkily, with Daniel Johnston's `True Love Will Find You in the End' but doesn't truly hit it's stride until the arrival of Jackson C. Frank's magnificent `Blues Run The Game'(so instantly lovable that you'll feel you know it even if you don't) with other standouts being Nick Cave's `Nobody's Baby Now'(unmistakably his) and Pamela Polland's `See My Love' (recorded by the impossibly obscure Gentle Soul)which provides a fittingly climactic finish to the album(like Dusty Springfield belting out a Martha Reeves song, if that makes any sense).
If I had to criticise the album it's that, at times it is a little too restrained and tasteful, lacking the spark and bite that a `proper' band might have brought to the proceedings('Just Like Honey', for example, didn't quite live up to my expectations).
So, perhaps, not quite a perfect record but the excellent tracks more than make up for the merely good, with plenty to enjoy for both fans of the artist and soon-to-be-converts alike: recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Before I start the review proper, let me reveal my ignorance. I have only ever heard one of these songs before and that is Jackson Frank's 'Blues Run The Game' and the version I have is by that goddess of folk/rock Sandy Denny. The version here is -and forgive me Sandy Denny fans (of which I am one)- better. Against an acoustic guitar backing, Diane sings with purity and precision, her American voice more suited ('Take a boat to England, baby/ maybe to Spain') to the lyrics than an English one. It's absolute perfection.
Perhaps I should also declare that I own Diane's two solo albums and love them to bits.
But here she shows her range, losing many of her vocal quirks to display a greater scope than her albums even suggested. In some ways, this is even better. The variety of styles she reveals, without ever being anything less than distinctively Alela Diane, is astonishing -laid back, intense, almost jazzy at times, always effortless and never less than controlled, she is a revelation.
The music is as you would expect, superbly played and arranged, but it is Alela Diane's show and her she proves she could sing almost anything she wants. The last time I was so impressed by a singer was in the late 60's and that was, well, Sandy Denny.
This is a marvellous album for fans of grown up music. Do your ears and mind a favour and get it now.
Perhaps I should also declare that I own Diane's two solo albums and love them to bits.
But here she shows her range, losing many of her vocal quirks to display a greater scope than her albums even suggested. In some ways, this is even better. The variety of styles she reveals, without ever being anything less than distinctively Alela Diane, is astonishing -laid back, intense, almost jazzy at times, always effortless and never less than controlled, she is a revelation.
The music is as you would expect, superbly played and arranged, but it is Alela Diane's show and her she proves she could sing almost anything she wants. The last time I was so impressed by a singer was in the late 60's and that was, well, Sandy Denny.
This is a marvellous album for fans of grown up music. Do your ears and mind a favour and get it now.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What a CD. I heard the North wind Blew South on the radio and had to hear more. I took a gamble and brought the CD without hearing any more than the snippit I had heard. From the first to last track it is just awesome. One of the Few CD's that I like every track, Personaly I think it is on a par with Raising Sand. Cant wait for the next CD
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Nicely played/sung, decent range of covers.
This covers album was made in 2008, since when Alela Diane (the vocalist here) has become higher profile via her ongoing solo work (with 2 new Rough Trade albums). Read more
Published 6 months ago by sonobuoy
Alela Diane at her best
The Silence of Love is an absolute joy. It consists of ten well chosen covers. The album is fronted by Alela Diane's rich voice and backed by some very skilled musicians. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Infoman
Fantastic choice of covers!
Alela Diane here provides the vocals on this inspired collection of covers of lesser known classics. Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2009 by P. Sharpe
cool laid back music
headless heroes is a kind of folk music, but then again, not! It's simpley too cool to be folk. Alela Diane has the most beautiful and almost fragile voice, but you can hear the... Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2009 by L. Hjorth
The Vague Cover Version Rendered Bare
One thing is certain - You can never have enough Francoise Hardy. You just can't. The whole Nouvelle Vague movement is well aware that even the most jagged and simple of songs can... Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2008 by Brady Orme
Surprisingly Great!
never been a fan of 'covers' records.. but i really rate this one.
firstly the choice of songs.. Read more
firstly the choice of songs.. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2008 by morten
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