Lydia Lunch

Lydia and Richard Kern

look for yourself.... (hint) gif from Right Side Of My Brain

 

Lydia Lunch and Cypress Grove previously unsettled the conventionally calm and respectful world of the cover song.

Lydia Lunch and Cypress Grove previously unsettled the conventionally calm and respectful world of the cover song with a number of fractured productions. As you might expect, the choice of songs on this collection is a disconcerting array of material ranging from the hugely popular to the wildly obscure; from Jon Bon Jovi to Nashville troubadour Aaron Lee Tasjan, Doors and many others.

Lydia Lunch is both a prodigious collaborator (Nick Cave, Sonic Youth, Rowland S. Howard et al) and remarkable interpreter of other people’s work. It may therefore come as a surprise to learn that “Under The Covers” is her first album to consist entirely of songs by other artists.

This album also marks her third collaborative effort with British guitarist Cypress Grove, building on the success of their previous albums, “A Fistful Of Desert Blues” and “Twin Horses”. Grove is also something of a serial collaborator, having worked with Nick Cave, Mark Lanegan and Jeffrey Lee Pierce, to name but a few.

Lunch and Grove have previously unsettled the conventionally calm and respectful world of the cover song with a number of fractured productions. These include a controversial take on The Eagles frequently reviled ’70s anthem “Hotel California”. Their version of the song so dramatically realigned the central narrative of the song that many listeners were forced to rethink their hostility towards the original composition. Lydia Lunch is a self-confessed contrarian who delights in reinterpreting the songs people (including herself) love to hate.

As you might expect, the choice of songs on this collection is a disconcerting array of material ranging from the hugely popular to the wildly obscure; from the bombast of hair rocker Jon Bon Jovi to the introspection of emerging Nashville troubadour Aaron Lee Tasjan. The roster also includes a harrowing reworking of Bobbie Gentry’s Southern Gothic classic “Ode To Billie Joe” – a thematically obscure tale of love, death, abortion and suicide.

In a typically oblique move, Lunch also decided to cover one of her own compositions. “Won’t Leave You Alone” is a song she co-wrote with James Johnston (Gallon Drunk/ PJ Harvey/ Bad Seeds). Here we see the song mutate from blues rock prophecy to haunting folk lament.

Whether it be original songs penned together or the masterful interpretation of classic material on “Under the Covers”, Lydia Lunch and Cypress Grove continue to delight with the warped beauty of their unconventional coupling.

TRACKING LIST
1- Ode to Billie Joe
(Bobbie Gentry)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
Mick Cozens – Harmonica

2 – Breakdown
(Tom Petty)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Bass
Suzie Stapleton – Vocals

3 – A Thousand Miles Of Bad Road
(Aaron Lee Tasjan)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Vocals

4 – Blaze Of Glory
(John Bon Jovi)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars
Mick Cozens – Guitars, Bass, Harmonica

5 – Red, White And Pink Slip Blues
(Mark Stephen Jones/Bud Tower)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Bass, Vocals
Suzie Stapleton – Vocals
Danilo Menna – Drums

6 – Midnight Rider
(Gregg Allman/Robert Payne)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Bass
Mick Cozens – Guitars
Suzie Stapleton – Vocals

7 – The Spy
(Jim Morrison)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars
Mick Cozens – Guitars, Bass

8 – I Want You
(Elvis Costello)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Vocals
Mick Cozens – Guitars, Bass

9 – Won’t Leave You Alone
(Lydia Lunch/James Johnston)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Vocals
Mick Cozens – Harmonica

10 – Do It Again
(Walter Becker/Donald Fagen)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Bass
Mick Cozens – Guitars, Keyboards, Harmonica

11 – Low
(David Lowery/Johnny Hickman/Davey Faragher)
Lydia Lunch – Vocals
Cypress Grove – Guitars, Keyboard, Bass
Mick Cozens – Guitars
Suzie Stapleton – Vocal

Under The Covers Limited Vinyl (PREORDER out in June) – Rustblade

That sure is an intriguing batch of tunes!

 

No other Lydia fans intrigued by the upcoming covers album and hearing her perform songs by Steely Dan, Tom Petty or Bon Jovi?! I am also curious to hear her take on "Ode To Billie Joe"!

I hate to start another thread for Lydia's new album, but it just seems so interesting! Maybe when there is some music available on Youtube, I'll start a separate thread.

 

I would've been interested if it was being released on CD.

 

It is.

Under The Covers CD (PREORDER out in June) – Rustblade

 

The Uncensored/Oral Fixation is the only Lydia disc I own, always had a soft spot for the 38'11 Oral Fixation.
Ode to Billy Joe alone means I have to get the new one.

 

the real question is do you have her film "fingered"

 

I'm very intrigued with her covering Elvis Costello's "I Want You."

 

Sorry -- my bad for only providing the vinyl link! BTW this I saw this on Amazon for ordering also.

 

You can see a short trailer for the new album with a few snippets of songs on Cypress Grove's FB page (I can't find it on Youtube):

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=203703886801208

 

Here's a link to "Blaze Of Glory" on SoundCloud:

LYDIA LUNCH & CYPRESS GROVE - Blaze Of Glory (Jon Bon Jovi)

 

Lydia is going to be in Pittsburgh in July -- I can't decide whether I should go or not! I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little scared LOL

 

You can hear the new album on Bandcamp!

Under The Covers, by Lydia Lunch & Cypress Grove

 

Unless you're hesitant of punk rick type concerts, nothing to be scared of. I've seen here before, and she's great live.

 

I think is one of the coolest songs ever, and I think Lydia is cool as hell and she takes no BS - a role model for women, especially these days. Some people despise her, but hey - most times that means you're doing something right!

 

Fairly lengthy interview with Lydia about the covers project:

http://innocentwords.com/lydia-lunch-whats-under-her-covers/

 

New project on Rustblade (it's nice to see Lydia have a stable label situation for a change!).

Lydia Lunch has never concealed her influence for a certain kind of literature. With Marchesa she pays homage to the writing and stories of the Marquis De Sade who has always been a great inspiration for her. With this album Lydia transports us into a world of sadism, perversion and pleasure.

Accompanying her in this literary voyage there is a background of dissonant sounds, distorted orchestration and ambient noises composed by Stefano Rossello (Bahntier, Ketvector) and by Lunch herself.A sensual and perverse homage to sadism, spirituality and fulfilment.

It is certainly one of Lydia Lunch’s most complete and shocking works. An absolute must!




A1 Cruelty
A2 Voluptuous Machines
A3 Poor Pathetic Creatures
A4 Polyphony
A5 Nature Herself

B1 Defiant Existence
B2 Encyclopedia of Disaster
B3 Cursed Folly
B4 Predator

 

I really loved her work and was very excited when 13.13 came to play Maxwell's. I was doing sound that night. When she came into the club she quickly figured out who I was and marched up to me with outstretched hand, "Hello, are you the sound man?" she enquired. I nodded and replied, "Yes I am. My name is Guy," as she gave me a firm handshake. "I'm pleased to meet you, my name is Lydia." She continued to be very direct and business-like about the entire enterprise and I remember the soundcheck being quick and simple. She knew what she was looking for and was happy with the best that I could offer given Maxwell's six-channel board (one channel broken, one for the DJ mixer).

 

Rustblade recently reissued the 13.13 album on vinyl:

13.13 Limited Vinyl – Rustblade