It has certainly become de rigueur for modern musicians to name drop avant-garde musician
Arthur Russell as a musical influence. The pioneering downtown artist’s masterful and inspiring back catalog was once the preserve of musos and disco aficionados but here, on Yep Roc’s tribute compilation, the likes of
Jose Gonzalez,
Hot Chip,
Devendra Banhart, and more interpret
Russell's wide and diverse oeuvre for the Red Hot Organization for AIDS and HIV awareness. Instead of taking inspiration from
Russell's own ingenuity when it comes to songwriting and craft, most of the acts apply their trademark sounds to their chosen tracks without adding or enhancing the original version. There are some highlights, however, with
Robyn's highly likeable version of
Loose Joints' "Tell You," which injects the Swedish star's own personality into the track, matching the color and vibrancy of the original.
Hot Chip apply their usual methodical approach to
Dinosaur L's post-disco masterpiece "Go Bang" and turn it into a rigid, dancefloor-aimed number.
Blood Orange and
Peter Zummo (who once recorded with
Russell) and
Liam Finn keep things interesting with their takes on the songs "Is It All Over My Face & Tower of Meaning" and "This Love Is Crying," but overall the compilation, with all its good intentions, pales in comparison to the originals and will only strengthen the urge to hear
Russell's wonderful songs again after listening to this well-meaning but flawed collection. ~ Aneet Nijjar