In conjunction with Velvet Underground’s White Light/White Heat 45th anniversary reissue, Burger Records released a tribute to the New York noisy combo, working on a track-by-track reinterpretation of their second LP.
Several artists from Burger’s catalogue worked together to create a peculiar version of that timeless record, counting on that 60s-influenced sound they’re all used to. Inevitably, this tribute is way far from the peaks the Velvet’s record reached, but still it’s an enjoyable collection of great covers. Considered on their own (avoiding a pointless comparison with the 1968 album), the songs have a proper identity in most of the cases, without any fear in testing themselves with such a classic.
Following the original order, this tribute starts with the Natural Child‘s version of the title track: a more peaceful approach to that well-know rock’n’roll pattern, with a slow’n’quiet ending replacing the noisy storm of guitars Lou Reed played.
Probably the least personal reinterpretation on the collection, The Memories version of The Gift is too similar to the spoken-poetry piece played by the New Yorkers, aping the sound of that grunge-precursor tune. The tribute goes on with Mozes and The Firstborn powerful Lady’s Godiva Operation and Curtis Harding funk-oriented version of Here She Comes Now, reveling a peculiar way to manipulate the Velvet’s harmonies.
The last two tracks are probably the perfect marriage between the Burger Records standards and the tones of the original record: Gap Dream and Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel play a cardinal role on this task.
I Heard Her Call My Name is blended with the distinctive Mr. Elevator’s sound, giving the Cry Baby-filtered licks the possibilities to show an appropriate arrangement. It’s like turning a noisy rock’n’roll into a vigorous surf-rock track.
The last piece on the record is conferred to Gap Dream, who adequately re-adapted the Sister Ray’s suite to a 80s synth-based composition. In this case, we’re listening to totally different version of the original tune. Gap Dream entirely re-invented the track, using a vocoder for the vocal line and a drum machine as a main pattern.
A good way to celebrate the 45th Birthday of a cornerstone in rock music.