OR   Search for Artist/Title    Advanced Search
 
you are not logged in...  [login] 
All Reviews    Edit This Review     
Review: 'NADIA'
'Strange Song - The Songs of Leonard Cohen'   

-  Label: 'Self Released'
-  Genre: 'Folk' -  Release Date: '23rd May 2011'

Our Rating:
This must have seemed like a good idea at the time.

A youngish Canadian singer reinterprets nine songs by one of her country's most celebrated singer-songwriters.

But the dubious premise of the project is that any of Leonard Cohen's songs will gain from being subjected to an indie-rock makeover.

You can't help but feel disconcerted by the accompanying the press release statement which states that "Leonard's production is sometimes an acquired taste" and talks of bringing the songs into a "contemporary arena".

What, I wonder, is 'contemporary' about having a woman sing 'I'm Your Man', or of adding harsh guitar riffs to One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong or crass backing vocals on Ain't No Cure For Love?

On the sleeve notes Nadia includes an affectionate dedication to Cohen: "Thank for informing my notions of life, love and hate" but I doubt that he will feel much inclined to return the gratitude if/when he hears these versions.

The big problem is that the subtlety, humour and depth of his songs of love and desire are all entirely lost for the simple reason that Nadia does not treat the lyrics with any sensitivity.

I guess her electrified revamps of Why Don't You Try or Came So Far For Beauty are aimed at fans of PJ Harvey / Patti Smith but they are treatments that just do not work on any level.

If only the sentiment of the Cohen song True Love Leaves No Traces (not covered by Nadia) were true of this record. Instead it is the musical equivalent of leaving a set of muddy footprints across an expensive white carpet.

Nadia's Website
  author: Martin Raybould

[Show all reviews for this Artist]

READERS COMMENTS    10 comments still available (max 10)    [Click here to add your own comments]

There are currently no comments...
----------



NADIA - Strange Song - The Songs of Leonard Cohen