I'm not a fan of irony, say Paul Anka covering Soundgarden, or some slowed down, singer-songwriter take of a pop hit we orignally paid no mind to. (Though, I will credit John Wesley Harding for being the first to start and also nail this trend with his beautiful version of Madonna's "Like A Prayer.") But I do like a choir, and I am really loving Scala.
Here's what their website says:
"You could be very brief about Scala; a youth choir from Aarschot, Belgium, roughly sixty teenage girls, directed by two talented brothers, and enjoying national and international recognition. That could be it..."
Of course, you could read more at
http://www.scalachoir.com/en/index2.htm
Under the guidance of the Kolacny Brothers (no, I've never heard of them prior to this and even now I am not sure that I have) Scala released "It All Leads To This." This is a spirited collection of songs that I find hard to resist. It may come across as novelty at first, but Scala sucked me in.
TRACK LIST
1. Nothing Else Matters (Metallica song)
2. Viva La Vida (Coldplay)
3. Suzanne (Leonard Cohen)
4. California Dreamin' (The Mamas & The Papas)
5. Ironic (Alanis Morissette)
6. Solsbury Hill (Peter Gabriel)
7. Bad (U2)
8. Champagne Supernova (Oasis)
9. I Feel You (Depeche Mode)
10. Use Somebody (Kings of Leon)
11. Lithium (Nirvana)
12. Evigheden (M. Bojesen)
There will be a U.S. release in the fall, but in the meantime, dig Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill," with just piano and voices in harmony. This is Scala. I hope you love this.
http://soundcloud.com/shore-fire/solsbury-hill-by-scala
And this is just gorgeous.
9 comments:
You've opened up an interesting thread... covers of songs that deconstruct the original.... Did you ever hear Springsteen's 1988 version of The Beach Boys' "When I Grow Up To Be A Man"? Quite stunning in its wistful tone.
richeye,
NO! How did that slip by me? I have a handful of 88 shows, but no Beach Boys cover.
I never heard that Springsteen Beach Boys cover either.
Link somewhere?
I've never heard of that either. There's some live thing on You Tube from 1985 that sounds very vacant. Just him strumming the electric guitar and singing, not too good. I'd much rather hear the Beach Boys.
I should also add that "Solsbury Hill" is pretty much the only Peter Gabriel record that I love unreservedly.
A girls choir accompanied by a piano will be in my hell, guaranteed.
That last Gabriel record should have been titled "Songs from my Deathbed".
Enjoyed the Creep cover. That song is very malleable...seems like just about everyone has covered it. Maybe Springsteen should give it a shot. (Listen..you can hear it in your head, can't you?)
I saw and heard him sing in in Dublin on the Born in The USA Tour. Should be available on boots from around that time
Thanks for the Scala turn on. I have been very moved by them. I got ahold of some of their stuff today and have posted a video on my facebook page, which is nearly perfect. It's off them singing with or without you.
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