What do you get if you take a bunch of the most iconic songs of the eighties (with one or two from the seventies and nineties for good measure!), arrange them in an orchestral style, and invite some of today’s most interesting vocalists to provide new vocals? The answer is this album, ‘Orchestral variations V.01’, a fascinating project from The Separate (producer Rob Kirwan, Keith Cullen of Setanta, and string-arranger Fiona Brice). It’s quirky, unusual and – by the trio’s own admission – self-indulgent, but it works and we think it’s brilliant.
The album is released on July 3rd and here’s everything you need to know…
- Something To Believe In (Ramones) – with Ed Harcourt
- Video Killed The Radio Star (The Buggles) – with Anais
- Once In A Lifetime (Talking Heads) – with Paul Noonan
- Close To Me (The Cure) – with Mark Lanegan
- This Night Has Opened My Eyes (The Smiths) – with Joan As Police Woman
- Big Sky (The Kinks) – with Jaymay
- Souvenir (OMD) – with Stephanie Dosen
- Ghost Town (The Specials) – with Scott Hutchinson
- Stories For Boys (U2) – with Martha Wainwright
- Gigantic (Pixies) – with Charlotte Hatherley
- Old Town (Phil Lynott) – with Patrick Wolf
- West End Girls (Pet Shop Boys) – with Brian Molko
Yes. ‘Orchestral Variations V.01’ will be the last ever release on the independent label Setanta which has been run by Keith Cullen since 1990, bringing us music from artists as diverse as Edwyn Collins, Richard Hawley, Evan Dando and The Frank & Walters. The label is closing so Keith can concentrate on other things, and get back to being a fan of music rather than an industry person, and we salute everything Setanta did, while wishing Keith all the very best with whatever comes next!