What I love most about acoustic covers is their ability to reveal songs in a new light. That is certainly the case with two recent releases from Sarah-Louise and Hannah’s Yard. The former has put out a magical reimagining of ‘Simply the Best’, Tina Turner’s powerhouse vocals disappearing to be replaced by Sarah-Louise’ tender, jazz-inflected tones. It becomes a much more quietly affectionate track, as does ‘You’ve Got the Love’ in Hannah’s hands. There are few better qualified to rework instant classics, but as with ‘Blackbird’ (still a personal favourite) she manages to capture something fresh and unique, turning it into her own. In this instance, the intimacy at its centre, perhaps lost in Florence Welch’s version, comes right to the fore. Communicating a deeply devotional love which Sarah-Louise also succeeds in. Add a sunny Sunday afternoon for listening, and both songs come to represent the ideal lazy-day vibe, with the addition (if you’re lucky enough) of sharing it with the one you love.
You can listen to ‘You’ve Got the Love’ here and ‘Simply the Best’ here.
Featured Images (C) Hannah's Yard/Sarah-Louise
desperatelylostcity.com 