Cover versions can often be a tricky affair; Play it too safe and the listener may as well just listen to the source material, mess around with it too much and you may lose whatever it was that made the original so special.
These rules do not apply to Nouvelle Vague. for over ten years the much loved French band have been taking tracks that are revered in the collective consciousness and giving them their own unique bossa-nova twist. Stripped from their familiar sounds and in the able hands of the Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux led outfit these renditions have a great knack of bringing out unexpected melodies and shining a new light on some momentous musical moments.
‘I Could Be Happy‘, the band’s fifth studio album and also an original track by Altered Images, does just that showcasing 6 more handpicked and carefully crafted reworkings of tracks from the likes of Brian Eno, The Ramones and The Cure to name a few. In contrast with previous releases ‘I Could Be Happy‘ is the first release to feature original material from Nouvelle Vague themselves and while these tracks don’t have the same “damn, I know this track, but do I…” feeling that their previous repertoire offered they remain accomplished and enjoyable within their own right.
‘I Could Be Happy‘ is out now on Kwaidan.
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