Cover version of the month 115
Kieran Hebden and William Tyler cover Lyle Lovett
Driving west in the Autumn sunshine in late September, Huw Stephens announced he was playing a song from a new album by Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) and William Tyler. It was an edited (radio) version of their song If I Had a Boat which opens their album 41 Longfield Street Late 80's.
I was instantly spellbound by the atmospheric finger picked acoustic guitar riffs mixed with ambient textures. This gorgeous instrumental was the absolutely perfect soundtrack as I drove towards the setting sun.
After the song finished playing, Huw announced that it was a cover of a Lyle Lovett song. As soon as I stopped driving, I checked it out.
Lovett's original was the opening song on his 1988 album entitled Pontiac. The lyricss are based on a true story about Lovett once trying to ride across a pond on a pony and wishing he had a boat.
The acoustic riff and slide guitar that Hebden and Tyler have stretched and played with is there, although, other than the intro, it is largely hidden behind the vocal melody and story that Lovett is telling by song.
And if I had a boat, I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony, I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together, go out on the ocean
I said me upon my pony on my boat
Lovett's song has a beautiful naive quality to it. The lyrics, melody and guitar are quite dreamy. Hebden and Tyler take that dreaminess and take it to the next level with their combined skills.
The cover version begins in a cool, calming and relaxing manner. You don't need a boat to drift off, this is gorgeous. Acoustic guitar is gently teased and eased into the ambient textures.
At 2-minutes 40 seconds, everything drops out to leave finger picked acoustic guitar, sounding warm, Autumnal and as if it is being played in a golden haze. Think Embryonic Journey by Jefferson Airplane. Wow. I could listen to this all day.
So too, could Hebden and Tyler. Well, at least for 11-minutes!
Tyler, former guitarist with Lambchop, takes Lyle Lovett's guitar riffs and jams and expands them. Pedal steel with reverb comes in and then as the song edges past 6-minutes 30 seconds, Hebden brings the ambience back as the guitar fades a little and somehow seems to transform into synth sounds that bubble along for another 3 dreamy minutes. It's an utterly sublime cover - magical.
Lovett's original and the Hebden and Tyler cover of If I Had a Boat are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE
Previous covers of the month blogs
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U
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