Title - 'Reproductions'
Artist - Charlotte Martin
The basic tagline to this new release is that 'Reproductions' is Charlotte Martin's way to cover prior hits/album tracks featuring renditions of some of her/our favorites, such as Interpol, Pearl Jam, Joni Mitchell, Massive Attack, New Order, and so, so many more. But in truth this album is way more, way deeper than that.
Indeed, her version of KD Lang's 'Constant Craving' is really very, very nicely orchestrated. It's a great song anyway for sure, but sounds just as good with the addition of Charlotte's newer choice of musical instruments as it does in it's original form.
She even gives a new spin to an old '80s staple 'Bizarre Love Triangle' (New Order), but it's her mishandling of The Cure's 'Just Like Heaven' that begins to show us the flawed cracks in her tried-inspiration. On the otherhand, her flair for melodrama well-serves Pearl Jam's 'Elderly Woman...' and her version of 'Obstacle 1' (Interpol) brings forth into semi-light a (her) version from their usual murky waters of gloom and despair!
At its core, 'Reproductions' is Charlotte's covers album and they say every artist should make one, right? Well, maybe yes, maybe no. In Charlotte's case perhaps she just got this one under her belt a little too early. But, that's for you all to now go out and decide for yourselves.