A wealth of artist has contributed their interpratations for AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T.Rex. NicK Cave in particular went all out with his version Cosmic Dancer. Marc Almond trumpets heavy Teenage Dream is not half bad either. It was producer Hall Willner's last project before he died on April 7 this year. The album is available in various formats (2CD, 2LP, digital) here. Wait awhile it will turn up a lot cheaper as is the fate of most covers records.
The David Bowie tribute at the Royal Albert Hall in London was disappointing as a whole, with the guest singers avoided taking risks and/or missing the notes by a mile. The music of Bowie needs a sparkle, dynamics and a mischievous smile. The arrangements were nice enough, but deconstruction and reinvention of the music would have turned into a truly memorable night, not a parade of nervous artists catering to the mainstream. One man could not save the night, but he came close. John Cale stood his ground and was one of the few highlights. The Guardian concurs:
Then John Cale arrives, wearing an overcoat, scarf and a skirt. In the hands of a Velvet Underground member who influenced Bowie in the first place, Valentine’s Day becomes a dark, electronic elegy, Sorrow a buzzing, gothic anthem, and Space Oddity an excursion into trip-hop, lifted high by the House Gospel Choir.
Bowie’s star burns the strongest here tonight, and the blackest, into the next day.
A wealth of artists will be paying tribute to David Bowie at the Royal Albert Hall in London on July 29 as part of the BBC Proms. Berlin based musicians’ collective s t a r g a z e and its Artistic Director André de Ridder will welcome guests John Cale, Jherek Bischoff & Amanda Palmer, Marc Almond and Laura Mvula to celebrate his musical heritage.
[s t a r g a z e] are joined by guest singers and collaborators – including Michel van der Aa, Jherek Bischoff, David Lang, Anna Meredith, Greg Saunier and Josephie Stephenson – to re-imagine the Bowie catalogue with fresh settings of classic works.Guest singers:
The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and 6 Music, as well as being shown on BBC Four.
» davidbowie.com
» amandapalmer.net
» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale tour dates
(thanks: Marek Koudelka)
