Pop is a bit of a dirty word in our musical circles, both the concept of popular music and the sounds associated with it. Snobbery aside, there’s a lot to admire about music that captures the mass market and the properties of full-formed pop songs. Bullion is all too aware of this and, through his DEEK Recordings imprint, presents pop music in a unique and imaginative way. Releases from Laura Groves, Blludd Relations, Nautic and his solo work all display this in droves, but it’s perhaps this latest compilation that embraces pop music the most. Covered in Gloria gives the reigns to some label favourites and friends – including Suzanne Kraft, Red Axes, Minor Science – to work up their own spin on some classics from Roy Orbison, Julio Iglesias, Oasis, Beastie Boys, A Guy Called Gerald and even Wham! Check the full tracklist at the bottom; they’re novel, idiosyncratic and utterly brilliant. Here some of the team discuss their approaches and you can also get a first listen to ALASKALASKA’s rendition of Edwyn Collins’ ‘A Girl Like You’.
Covered in Gloria is out 8th Sep – buy from Bandcamp. The launch party is on the same day at The Yard, London, featuring Thool (live), Kero Kero Bonito Soundsystem, Bullion and Chuggy Leath.
Bullion
Why did you choose your track to cover? Could you give us an insight to how the original artist has influenced your musical path.
It was a toss up between Friday and Lawdy Mama. Lawdy turned out to be a bit hard to sing without going full-tilt Yankee doodle and Friday is such a special little grooveboat.
Was it tricky to give a new lease of life to a track that’s already important to you?
The original is untouchable really, but thankfully Critter & Guitari weren’t making the Organelle when J.J. Cale was around and I used that to make the cover, so it’s bound to sound a bit more modern!
Thool
Why did you choose your track to cover? Could you give us an insight to how the original artist has influenced your musical path.
First heard it driving around the streets of Washington beach and dancing in the Malibu Club in GTA Vice City. That’s sort of what the song is about too. Joe is also our Dad.
What were your initial intentions with the cover? Were there any parts from the original you wanted to focus on?
Initially we just thought it was fun and very groovy, but then realised that Joe’s lyrics were prophetic because people are half phone these days and “true fun” is in crisis. We popped it in 3/4 and got marvellous Marieke to sing it in her native tongue and voila!
Was it tricky to give a new lease of life to a track that’s already important to you?
It was so easy x
Minor Science
Why did you choose your track to cover? Could you give us an insight to how the original artist has influenced your musical path.
I don’t think you can hear much of The Blue Nile in the music I make as Minor Science, but they’re one of a few bands — most of them British and at their peak in the mid-‘80s — who’ve hugely shaped my taste in and ideas about pop music. Prefab Sprout, bits of Scritti Politti, Hounds of Love-era Kate Bush, that sort of thing. I share these weird tendencies with my old friends Nick and Jim, with whom I used to be in a band, so this cover is partly an ode to them. Thanks guys.
Could you talk us through how you executed the cover?
The original has this kind of woozy warmth — in keeping, I spose, with the title. My idea was to go in the opposite direction: keep the shape of the song, but make the landscape around it extremely cold and sparse. A guiding principle here was dub, which I guess you can hear in the extensive use of delay, and in the emphasis on highs and subbass lows.
Geller & Kaya
What were your initial intentions with the cover? Were there any parts from the original you wanted to focus on?
We tried to not focus too hard on getting every element spot on, but it was great to dissect Wham Rap & Everything She Wants to see just how great George was at writing melodies, harmonies and all the rest. I guess that’s what doing a cover is all about; learning new ways and being inspired by the greats!
Was it tricky to give a new lease of life to a track that’s already important to you?
If you are passionate about the song, you really want to give it justice and Everything She Wants is a true masterpiece. But if you concentrate on doing it in your own style, you’ll always come up with something original, albeit mad!
Sultan Shakes
Why did you choose your track to cover? Could you give us an insight to how the original artist has influenced your musical path.
I once knew a guy called Gerald from the nebula flame. He used to deal rare acid on the strip. This song reminds me of him.
What were your initial intentions with the cover? Were there any parts from the original you wanted to focus on?
I tried to find the ‘oud’ in voodoo so I took the boingy bass and the voice – it’s a real snake charmer.
Kero Kero Bonito
Why did you choose your track to cover? Could you give us an insight to how the original artist has influenced your musical path.
Mostly because we love it. The original sounds so big and strong. The concept is good too; everybody wants to be a rock ‘n’ roll star for a day.
Were there any parts from the original you wanted to focus on?
We wanted to become rock ‘n’ roll stars by covering the song about becoming a rock ‘n’ roll star.
Lxury
Why did you choose your track to cover? Could you give us an insight to how the original artist has influenced your musical path.
The first time I heard this song was on a Steve Reich themed adventure in the shabbier part of Monte Carlo with a good mate of mine, sat on a roof of an abandoned house talking to the locals. I wanted to keep the original charm of the bassline but to transport you into a more new age club with the help from my friend AV on vocals.
Covered in Gloria Full Tracklist
Artist – Title (Original Artist)
1. Never – Communication Breakdown (Roy Orbison)
2. Sean Nicholas Savage & Better Person – Moonlight Lady (Julio Iglesias)
3. Thool w/ Marieke – Je Sors (Stepping Out) (Joe Jackson)
4. Minor Science – Heatwave (The Blue Nile)
5. Kero Kero Bonito – Rock n Roll Star (Oasis)
6. Suzanne Kraft – Nordsee (Andreas Dorau)
7. Red Axes – Fly To Colombia (Kim Wilde)
8. LXURY w/ AV – Interlock (Glass Domain)
9. ALASKALASKA – A Girl Like You (Edwyn Collins)
10. Bullion – Friday (J.J. Cale)
11. Reckonwrong – Promise Me (Beverley Craven)
12. Sultan Shakes – Oud Ou Ray (A Guy Called Gerald)
13. Geller & Kaya – Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do) (Wham!)
14. Eyedress – Girls (Beastie Boys)
15. Geller & Kaya – Wham Dub [bonus]
