Wednesday, February 14, 2007

A Visitor to Cookie Mountain

A couple of weeks ago at his support gig for Because of Ghosts at the East, ATR heard Ned Collette play a glorious cover of Hours off the critically lauded Return to Cookie Mountain by TV on the Radio. This week a studio version of this track floated into our inbox at ATR. (Listen to this track at his myspace.)

For Collette to have a crack at this song so soon after Cookie Mountain was released seems an incredibly bold move given the praise this album received. (In case you weren't aware see the Pitchfork review and annual Pazz 'n Jop collation of crtics best of '06 by hip NY mag Village Voice.) But he has done an incredible job, and this should help to earn Ned some cred in wider circles.

For anyone that hasn't heard Hours from TVOTR, it displays that same sonic, brooding yet sassy intensity that the Brooklynites have become famous for. The song is a second person narrative that appears to be about someone in their younger years who has who has been messed around (Delayed, seduced), perhaps as a result of being too naive and innocent. However, they are being told that innnocence is something to savour (Walk around/Know you are beautiful) but at the same time to recognise what life really can serve up (You've much to do/Now listen to the truth).

TVOTR build momentum in this track with clever key changes between verses, haunting vocals (the oohs aahs nos and dahs are sumptious) and variety of different sounds (guitar feedback, sax, keys). The melody of the first verse repeats several times throughout the track with added urgency with every repeat.

Collette on the other hand provides a more reflective interpretation - one that is consistent to the sound on his debut album Jokes and Trials. What we get then is something that is not quite as angsty or foreboding as what Tunde Adebimpe creates from TVOTR, but Ned's earnest sounding voice feels so trustworthy and wise that he doesn't feel as disengaged as other artists might performing a cover of this note. With his particular brand of folky loop layered instrumentation, he masterfully builds momentum - first with Elliott Smith sounding finger picking, then layer after layer of guitar melody as well as drum machine, organ and bass. When you get to about the fourth verse there are too many layers to count. Ned's voice then rises and you can tell that he is just having a whole lot of fun playing what must be one of his fave tracks of 06.

Ned is next playing in Melbourne supporting the second album launch of New Buffalo at Curtin House on March 15 and 16. Buy tix from the Corner Box Office.

Hours will availabe for purchase soon via iTunes.

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Previously

Across the Rooftops 2006