New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Releasing an album of covers may sometimes be seen as a bit of an easy route to take by some, but there is a real art of paying homage to the classic songs of the past and when it is done well, taking such a route makes perfect sense. On Covers II as the name so succinctly suggests, is the second in a proposed trilogy of albums that sees Ed Robinson celebrating Soul and soulful classics and reworking them for his trademark, gentle dub meets Lovers Rock vibe.
Continuing the On Covers series with the Push Broom Gang Label and a production team spear headed by Luciana Maneri and Chris Fischer, this sophomore release in the series, the team has chosen Robinson's masterful re-imagining of the late legendary Bill Withers classic, Ain't No Sunshine as a calling card of what to expect. He takes this understated soul classic and injects it with a wonderful energy without losing the spirit and the sentiment that lies at the heart of the original. And that is the secret of how to deliver a successful covers album, to mix familiarity and freshness, where you can pay homage to the original without losing what it was that made the song so well-loved in the first place.
But Ed Robinson brings far more than that to the album, he brings a wonderful confidence, a wealth of experience and a real understanding of the songs that the team has selected to pay homage too, making the On Covers series a real must have, even if you already have the original versions. This is not about offering alternatives to the original recordings, this is about celebrating their greatness and durability by an artist and the team who have a real passion for and understanding of the material we have chosen to pay tribute to.
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