 Various Artists Splendid, super-mellow compilation of dear, devoted, demi-famous OMD fans paying homage to their still-way-underrated inspiration. What makes this tribute work where others crash out is in the obvious love involved … no contractually-obliged artists foisted into the mix by the label PR people, just a bunch of talented and humble bands doing a bunch of talented and humble songs. OMD's music lends itself well to covering, as the melodies are super-poppy and the lyrics gracefully evocative of emotions we all have in our hearts, yet can't quite name. Their spare synth-pop arrangements, too, can be effectively assailed by folks in their project studios with their clunky Casios and inexpensive microphones. The inclusion of mostly female vocalists makes a huge difference, as well. We already know how these songs sound with wimpy pop guys singing them; for we heard OMD do 'em. The soft, dorm-room-pretty voices here bring the songs into different terrain, helping to differentiate the covers immediately and let you know this won't be simply an assortment of pale imitations. I'm surprised at how often I put this disc on, in fact. Many of the tracks are so good that they rival the originals, and the ones that don't still make me admire OMD and the heartstrings they touched along the way. Instead of wanting to hit the stop button and put on an OMD record, I listen to this whole CD, bopping along, and then listen to an OMD record. Highlights: Brittle Stars' "Souvenir," Majestic's perfectly executed "So In Love," F.K.A. Oedipusarus Rex's lovely, nerdy "Tesla Girls," Laura Watling's charming "Secret," Acid House Kings' sadly beautiful "Almost," and a dreamy "Bunker Soldiers" by Mahogany (who, incidentally, is as good as OMD ever was, and hopefully one day will be similarly celebrated). No track stinks. Even the lesser ones fill out the mix with flair. A couple of nasally white guys here and there, but that was clearly inevitable. It's a simply delghtful record, and I won't even qualify it as a "tribute record." In its diary-scribble way, it's as essential an OMD record as any of the band's own … after all, you must take into consideration the behavior of the children when assessing the parents.
Review by La Fée |