Excursions

Artist: Elbow
Album: War Child: Heroes
Year: 2009

Cover songs are risky business. The best tactic is usually to go for a little-known track by an obscure artist, thereby avoiding preconceptions. Covers of classic songs are almost by definition destined to fail — these songs are classic for a reason, after all, and any re-recording will likely be a pale imitation of the original.

In taking on one of U2’s best known tracks from one of their most-heralded albums, Elbow have indeed set themselves up for embarrassment (or rather, U2 have, as they themselves asked Elbow to cover their song). However, Guy Garvey’s Mancunian accent and the delicate musical arrangement combine to achieve the rare feat of producing a cover that is at once faithful to the original, as well as wholly marked with the band’s own sound. Like the rest of Elbow’s music, it feels like northern England: grey skies, rain, and stained concrete buildings. A stunning example of why the band has been receiving acclaim all over the UK in the past year. After 8 years of releasing records, that attention must be satisfying indeed.