Nouvelle Vague
Athol-Brose
Reviewed by: Ziggy Merritt
Since 2007, Nouvelle Vague (French for “new wave”) have been delivering up covers of post-punk and new wave anthems in their inimitable bossa nova style. Strange as it may sound, these covers along with their original compositions are not simple gimmicks but true to their source of inspiration. Now coming back into the fold since their last proper studio release way back in 2010, they’ve returned with a new EP, Athol Brose.
If the title sounds at all familiar it should. The title as well as their title track cover a Cocteau Twins song of the same name from the 1988 album, Blue Bell Knoll. As always the core of Nouvelle Vague, Mark Collin and Olivier Libaux, restructure this cover around the easy-paced strumming of acoustic guitar and the lively, breathy vocals of their rotating cast of chanteuses. Where in the original Elizabeth Fraser’s lyrics could scarcely be deciphered, here they are rendered in absolute, tender clarity by longtime collaborator Liset Alea. There’s a slyness to the way “very, very silly boy” is sung that is accentuated by the graceful touch of the lounge piano and later ornamented by a more robust orchestra of bass and acoustics.
Athol Brose also includes an original composition by Libaux, “La Pluie et Le Beau Temps” (roughly translated as “Rain and The Beautiful Time”). The French-spoken track is baked in absolute simplicity with hardly much more than that same pairing of carefree acoustic strumming and effortless vocals. Also included are two updates on their previous covers of Joy Division’s “ Love Will Tear Us Apart” and the Buzzcocks’ “Ever Fallen in Love.” The former is a turbulent, cosmic remix by Dream Koala that accents the originals more nuanced textures while the Buzzcocks cover takes the upbeat tones of their hit and gifts it with a touch of sitar and ’60s – era psychedelic pop. Each track helps to reintroduce the band’s subtle aesthetic, one that revisits these classic hits and invigorates them with new life.
Rating: Bad-Ass
