Thursday, December 03, 2009

UNDER THE COVERS: Clare & The Reasons - "That's All" (Genesis cover)

Not sure if I'll stick with the name, but here's a new little feature on cover songs.

(Genesis & Clare)

Clare & The Reasons - "That's All" (Genesis cover)

What might initially sound like some high school marching band covering this Genesis classic is actually just a playful background for the beautiful, engaging voice of Clare Manchon, sounding like a cross between Nellie McKay and Regina Spektor. As the song progresses, the instrumentation and orchestration begin to sound reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens'
Illinois. It is a pleasure to hear the song in a new context, stripping it of that '80s production that can often make it sound a bit stale. Clare and The Reasons provide a reimagined and quite refreshing take that is fitting for this rainy evening of mine.

Clare and The Reasons is lead by collaborators Clare and Olivier Manchon. Their sophomore album,
Arrow, is out now on Frog Stand Records. The band is scheduled for a west coast tour in February 2010 with none other than the legendary composer-lyricist Van Dyke Parks. Parks is most remembered for being chosen by Brian Wilson to write the lyrics for the Beach Boys' abandoned album Smile -- eventually resurrected in 2004 by Wilson with help from Parks.

The pairing is not out of the blue as Parks collaborated with the band on their debut album The Movie. In celebration of the tour, they have offered up the above cover.

Speaking about the upcoming dates with Van Dyke Parks, the band says:
"Some things come along, like a sunny day after weeks of rain, or a good baguette, or a comfortable, yet good looking pair of shoes... That stuff is exciting, brings joy. When you find out you're touring with Van Dyke Parks, well, that's something entirely different."

Clare & The Reasons Upcoming 2009 Dates:
12/14 Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory w/ Keren Ann

2010 Dates w/ Van Dyke Parks:
2/9 The Triple Door - Seattle, WA
2/10 Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
2/12 The Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
2/14 McCabe's - Los Angeles, CA

Clare & The Reasons @ MySpace

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