EP Review: The Wind And The Wave – Covers One
3 min read
After gaining attention for last year’s debut album, From The Wreckage, Austin based duo The Wind and The Wave have quickly returned to bring us a brand new EP, Covers One. The pair met during the production of two album’s by vocalist Patricia Lynn’s former band Soldier Thread, on which record producer and musician Dwight Baker was working. Quickly forming a strong friendship, Baker and Lynn decided to write an album together, becoming ‘The Wind’ and ‘The Wave’ respectively. Their EP features playful renditions of classic tracks from Simple Minds, Stevie Nicks, R. Kelly, and more, and sees the two-piece indie-folk outfit at their most experimental and adventurous.
One point frequently discussed by critics following the release of From The Wreckage, and the indie-folk resurgence that occurred a few years prior, was the tendency for bands of this genre to sound indistinguishable from each other. However, with such a varied selection of covered artists on Covers One, The Wind and The Wave have ambitiously pushed the boundaries of their genre.
An example of this is in their ‘remix’ of R. Kelly’s Ignition. While Lynn’s feminine and folky vocals are poorly suited to rap and lead to a rendition that is slightly awkward, there is still something endearing about this cover. The duo should be commended for their adventurousness in stepping well out of the comforts of their folk origins and providing a cover that is unlike any other.
As for what inspired the overall mini-album, the ball got rolling when the duo recorded their covers of Simple Minds’ Don’t You (Forget About Me) and the Cyndi Lauper classic Time After Time for US medical drama series Greys Anatomy. Their upbeat, clap-along rendition of Don’t You (Forget About Me) is so far from the original that it’s almost unrecognisable, however seems to show a band that is enjoying themselves immensely. The track is toe-tappingly infectious, driven along by a bubbly banjo melody, and Lynn’s vocals are sweet and somehow joyous, despite the underlying yearning of the original song. In contrast, the EP’s closing track is slowed and sensitive. Stripped back to a gentle acoustic guitar harmony and the emotive vocals of both members of the pair, Time After Time has the potential to be truly moving.
While Edge Of Seventeen lacks the gutsiness of the Stevie Nicks’ original, this rendition does stand out as one of the most well executed tracks. The gradual build up of instrumental layers, on top of considered vocal harmonies leads to a complex soundscape that is difficult to ignore.
Without a doubt however, the highlight of the album, and the track that has received the most attention since its release, it the rootsy folk-rock rendition of You’ve Got Time, the Regina Spektor track most recognisable as the theme tune to the hit TV show Orange Is The New Black.
Lynn is an incredibly talented vocalist, as demonstrated throughout this entire album, however it’s the clear chemistry between her and Baker that really makes this EP so enjoyable. When listening to Covers One you can sense that the pair simply had fun making this album. It’s a light hearted offering from the duo, but shows The Wind and The Wavre are both playful and adventurous, traits that many other indie-folk outfits would envy.
