'Love’s A Cover’ isn’t a new album as such from the UK’s premier roots-rock hero, but a beautifully-packaged and lovingly annotated 15-track compilation of cover versions which acts as a splendid entrée for MWK’S new album proper, due early in 2007 on the Floating World label.
The track listing may raise a few eyebrows from those who feel King is strictly roots/ country-inclined in his tastes too. Yes, the album opens with a sorrowful, sparse and enchanting version of Townes Van Zandt’s ‘A Song For’ and there’s further elegiac singer/ songwriter fare such as a gentle and vulnerable take on Ron Sexsmith’s ‘Doomed’ and (inevitably) the faithful and winsome version of Dylan’s ‘Simple Twist Of Fate’ that previously adorned a cover-mounted copy of ‘Uncut’ a while back, but anyone previously thinking MWK’S area of influence doesn’t extend beyond these parameters may be in for something of a shock if they stay tuned here.
After all, there aren’t many performers around this hack can think of who’d have the nerve to plunder both the Scott Walker and Gilbert O’Sullivan songbooks and live to tell the tale, but – while no-one can realistically hope to compete with the incomparable Mr. Engel – Michael holds his own admirably during a surprisingly decent version of ‘Big Louise’ with Mike Cosgrove following gamely in the footsteps of Wally Stott’s original string arrangement. It’s not bad, but the really revelatory choice is a sombre and existential cover of the much-derided Gilbert O’Sullivan’s ‘Alone Again Naturally’ fuelled by harmonium, French horn and rolling drums. Indeed, he almost gives Nico a run for her money here.
Elsewhere, MWK’S work with The Good Sons is again touched upon thanks to their versions of John Fogerty’s ‘Someday Never Comes’ and The Stylistics’ ‘You Are Everything’. The former is a gritty, blue-collar rocker, while ‘You Are Everything’ remains the country-soul jewel in the crown from the Sons’ back catalogue, featuring one of King’s best, show-stopping vocals and a wonderfully deft, off-the-wrist solo from guitarist Phil Abram. I’m a little less convinced by the stripped-down take of Candi Staton’s ‘Young Hearts Run Free’, though on the face of it I wasn’t so sure about covering The Beatles’ ‘For No-One’ in theory, but MWK’s take – aided and abetted by Mike Cosgrave’s low-key Parisienne accordion – really is quite lovely.
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Indeed, it’s often the stripped-back renovation jobs that work the best here. From MWK’S most recent studio album ‘A Decent Man’, we get to revisit a lovely version of Pete Townshend’s ‘Blue, Red & Grey’ with further Gallic-flavoured support from Mike Cosgrave, while further honours are vied for by a suitably sombre and stately take of the terminally under-rated Phil Ochs’ ‘No More Songs’ and with only Phil Abram’s lone acoustic guitar for company, King turns in one of his finest vocals during a version of ‘Straight To You’ which – in this reviewer’s humble opinion – tops the Nick Cave original for sheer depth of feeling.
‘Love’s A Cover’, then, presents us with an enjoyably diverse and thoughtful collection which pays unique tribute to a clutch of maverick talents who have all conspired to influence our unsung hero along the way. It’s diverting stuff and a fine prelude to his next album proper which ought to be with us soon. It’s quietly subtitled ‘volume 1’ too, which suggests he has more in the works. Fine by me.
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