Once a cover version succeeds in doing justice to its origin, and at the same time establish completely new emotional space, you can be confident that you have witnessed a piece of true art. The version of the poem "Orphan's Lament" by Steel & Velvet succeeds exactly in this the reverent reinterpretation that is so faithful and, at the same time, so shockingly new.
The original was accompanied by Basho playing the piano but the genius adaptation by guitarist Romuald Ballet-Baz is on acoustic guitar using the finger-picking style that Basho himself so enjoyed. It is a daring decision, but at the very beginning, pentatonic scale, you know why it is so. The guitar is virtually vocal, talking to the incredible baritone of Johann Le Roux.
And what a voice it is. The earthiness of Le Roux is anchoring this meditation on loss and belonging with his deep and resonant tones. The choice to change the song to a low key is also inspired--it is weighty without being heavy, grave without melodramatic. You can experience the pain in each line, but you never have the sense that you are being cheated.
The relation between these two musicians of Breton is what impresses me most of all. In the accuracy of their playing their classical training can be seen, but there is no clinical or studied feel. The feeling is heartfelt, direct and all too real. This is minimalism which spills with emotion--evidence that taking away what we do not need can bring to light all that we really need.
"Orphan's Lament" is the first song on the Steel and Velvet's People Just Float EP, and its opening track that presents the main character of the short film, Joshua. It is an appropriate introduction--a universal work of orphans which somehow appeals to the displaced child in us all. This Breton three-piece goes on to show that genuine, in-your-face music making is not only possible in our hyper-produced era, but it is sorely required.
