To be honest, I’m not a big fan of all those lockdown covers and re-recordings. These are tough times, but I hope that artists can also turn the restrictions and suffering as a result of COVID-19 into impressive music, as severe pains have often led to great art. That said, fortunately there are exceptions and a few good lockdown albums are made.. The twelve Locked Down & Stripped Back versions that the legendary British indie rock band The Wedding Present has released are very impressive. Following the cancellation of the At The Edge Of The Sea festival, they decided to replace it with an online version presented from their living rooms, featuring home-recorded videos for which they re-worked tracks in a semi-acoustic style, now also available digitally, on CD and on vinyl. The collection features home recordings of ten classics and two previously unreleased songs: You’re Just A Habit That I’m Trying To Break is the first result of David Gedge’s songwriting partnership with new guitarist Jon Stewart (of Sleeper fame), We Should Be Together was originally written but never released by Sleeper themselves (now with Louise Wener on vocals). Listen to the two new tracks below.
Out now through Scopitones and HHBTM Records. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs
The tracks on this new album are first and foremost (still) good songs, but in this setting, unpolished, intimate and authentic, they become extra powerful. Watch the video of The Wedding Present’s remote at-home recording of fan favorite My Favorite Dress from 1987’s George Best album and you’ll see what I mean..