September 16, 2009

Asobi Seksu Cover Hope Sandoval

thubmnail icon: Asobi Seksu Cover Hope Sandoval

Brooklyn dream-pop outfit Asobi Seksu just released a 10" anchored by "Transparence," a standout from this February's Hush LP. Before the clock strikes '10 they'll have a third release on the year by way of Rewolf, an LP offering acoustic versions of Seksu songs spanning their three albums, including a few b-sides and this cover "Suzanne." As headlined, the source comes not from Leonard Cohen but rather the recently reactivated Mazzy star Hope Sandoval's 2002 album Bavarian Fruit Bread. The warmly narcotic, Velvet-undertoned original is classic Sandoval, but the reverent, acoustic and glockenspiel-tinkled cover is atypical Asobi, a band better known for its shoegaze atmospherics and coruscating waves of James Hanna's guitars. As such it's a tease of what to expect on Rewolf, which was recorded at London's Olympic Studios on an off-day just before it ceased operation, and we're told "turns a new page for Asobi Seksu." Few voices carry as distinctively as Hope's, but Yuki's understated intonations are a fair response to a thankless task.

Asobi Seksu - "Suzanne" (MP3)

The original:

Rewolf is out 11/10 via Polyvinyl. Here's the tracklist:

01 "Breathe Into Glass"
02 "Walk On The Moon"
03 "Meh No Mae"
04 "New Years"
05 "Blind Little Rain"
06 "Urusai Tori"
07 "Suzanne"
08 "Gliss"
09 "Familiar Light"
10 "Thursday"

Asobi tour:

09/16 - New York, NY @ Joe's Pub (acoustic performance)
09/23 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
09/24 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
09/26 - Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
09/27 - Denton, TX @ Hailey's
09/29 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush
09/30 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
10/01 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubador *
10/02 - San Franisco, CA @ Slims *
10/03 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge *
10/04 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey *
10/06 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret *
10/09 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
10/10 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge *
10/11 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop *
10/12 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
10/13 - Montreal, QC @ Il Motore *
10/14 - Boston, MA @ Great Scott *
10/15 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwells *
10/16 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
10/17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas *