Nouvelle Vague are back, aiming to reignite their cover version stance, and that is exactly what the 2016 release ‘I Could Be Happy’ does. With four original tracks on the record, though, the band is still keen to show you where the Nouvelle magic comes from.
Tracks such as ‘Maladroit’ are beautifully structured with a delicate guitar. Nouvelle Vague have found a heavenly match of romantic sounds and fragile French lyrics to make the perfect sultry afternoon listening. ‘Loneliness’ explores the more creative and mysterious side of Nouvelle Vague while ‘La Pluie Et Le Beau Temps’ slightly fastens the tempo – and in the process puts a spring in your step.
The cover songs seem to be carefully picked and when you can transform punk songs into something so beautiful, you forget the original existed – for a few minutes of course. Ramones punk classic ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’ is now a graceful track, the type of cover song expected to soundtrack a high-end television advert. Other covers come from The Cure, and artists that in some respect created the punk scene such as Richard Hell. It would be no surprise that the French cover band would be able to turn water into wine with their intelligent remakes.
Nouvelle Vague have created an album telling tales weaving in and out of the beautifully spoken French word and the English. Regardless of whether you understand what is being sung, easy on the ear and quirky sounds are enough to entice any listener.
7/10
Words: Georgia Ivey
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