As I’ve previously mentioned, cover songs inherently carry some risk. So, when our friend Peter Ehrling, better known as Me & Melancholy, offered up an entirely new album of them, I was both excited and curious to see how he would navigate these challenges. Reimagining nine of his favourite tunes from bands like Depeche Mode, Bloc Party, and Radiohead, Peter delivers more dark and atmospheric goodness that has exceeded my expectations.
Depeche Mode’s ‘The sun and the rainfall’ kicks things off and, while keeping the original melody intact, Ehrling introduces some unique and fresh harmonies into proceedings. ‘3e Sexe’ by 80s French new-wave act Indochine is the next track to get a reworking and features the talented Moroccan artist Zeyneb on vocals. “I’ve always loved the bassline of this song,” says Peter. “And it’s my favourite Indochine song”.
A chilled and laidback version of Bloc Party’s ‘This Modern Love’ then steps up to the plate and is easily one of my personal favourite reinterpretations on the record, before New Order’s ‘Run’ takes the listener on a nostalgic yet refreshingly new sonic journey.
Five more covers follow ‘Run,’ and I’ll let you discover them all on your own. What I will say, however, is that Me & Melancholy is a project that keeps on wonderfully surprising me. Just fantastic stuff!
Serious album alert! Enjoy ‘Under Cover, part 2’ on Spotify now:
