News

Track Review: Chromatics "Running Up That Hill" (demo)

· by

Track Review: Chromatics "Running Up That Hill" (demo)

download

A litany of artists including Placebo, Pink Floyd, Kiki & Herb, and Patrick Wolf have attempted Kate Bush's 1985 classic "Running Up That Hill," but none have managed the restrained grace of this demo by Portland's Chromatics that's been tearing up the blogosphere for the last week. Chromatics are the class of the Italo-disco mini revival that includes Swedish sweetheart Sally Shapiro and their fellow Oregonians, Glass Candy. Ruth Radelet's thin yet sultry voice is the key here, gliding effortlessly above immaculate synth throbs. Her interpretation lets the gender swap lyrics sound much sexier than they read on paper

It should be prominently noted that the original is very solid on its own, and it's no coincidence that Chromatics' best moment to date has a legendary songwriter like Ms. Bush to thank. But there's something about the bombast in Kate's version, a brashness to the drum fills and overinflated vocal overdubs, that feels curiously dated now. Perhaps it's a victim of its huge perm and enormous shoulder pad decade. The mistake detractors of material like this and bands like the Knife make in calling them "80's synth rip-offs" is that their production is often so much more elegant than that of their inspirations. If the eighties had actually sounded like this, it wouldn't have taken twenty years to stop being embarrassed about them.

  ·  
Tags
Chromatics
Kate Bush
Track Review

this song is pretty awesome.

Dave Park

kate bush's version is dated, but that probably owes more to current tastes than poor technique. i think the bombastically weird '80s production on the original creates a harsh, dissonant, almost uncomfortable feeling that compliments bush's voice. this one focuses on the haunting melody, and its the best cover i've heard of it. still feels a bit like taste alignment what with the renewed appreciation of bush, tho.

Joel Michael Cusumano

I'd love to hear the original or some of the other covers. You guys have that to put up here?

Tine

Check the original here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BZsXVf6INcI'm sure that and some covers could be found through hype machine...

Jeff Klingman

Very nice.For me, the original has an unlikely emotional impact; the "Come on, baby, come on darlin'" section kills me every time. This cover is more emotionally detached, understated... but there's something quite compelling about it.

Joey Headset

I dunno, I don't really love this version much - the original was great because Kate Bush's voice is anything but thin, whereas this version could have been sung by any generic voice. I think it's a bit too detached and sounds too much like a cover, personally.

China

For sounding so similar, they each sound distinctly of their time. That's nice. I think the cover is actually more evocative.

william

They've totally drained the urgency from the song. It wasn't "bombast" in the original by Kate Bush, but a driving beat and vocal that raised the hairs on the back of your neck. Sorry, this sorta sounds like Paris Hilton attempting to cover Kate. There is really only one Kate cover that has ever moved me as much as the original and that is Maxwell's version of This Woman's Work.

Collin

Listen to Les July's version on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0f2aZgttpk. His version is something. This version is okay, but Kate's version definitely has a wrenching quality that sounds much more mature than this much thinner version; lets face it, Kate Bush is an incredible genius who transcends time and hairdo styles and shoulder pad fads....

Kevin

i strongly prefer the Placebo cover... this cover is a little too much fairy-like to me

gatoflojo

[...] suddenly held up as a towering influence on today’s young bands. Their version of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” already checked those boxes. But while listening to the lightly churning guitar and fuzzy synth [...]

» Track Review: Chromatics “I’m

well Jeff, I'm not sure where you get the idea that Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (Deal With God)" sounds dated by today's "standards", if you can call them "standards". I've listened to the Chromatics version of the track and it is nothing short of hipster/electro/sleepy/garbage all wrapped up in a haircut with trim bangs and a vintage T...the young lassie and her own interpretation of the song comes out like she's asleep at the mic. I can't believe you lump Kate Bush in with a lot of the 80s kitsch (and you may note that there is far more junk hitting the airwaves today that is forgotten within minutes) that we all so fondly remember. Kate's pinnacle album "Hounds of Love" exists today (as it did then, more than 20 yrs ago) as a masterpiece. Kate Bush is an artist, where the Chromatics, well, are a 2008 (7? 6? who cares really) group of 2 with a casio, an ipod and douchebag haircuts. The sooner we move on past these trendy faux musician type "bands" the sooner we can try and forget them. Don't diss Kate Bush, it just doesn't make sense.

/site_media/uploads/images/users/prefix/no-user-pic.gifElephunt

Only kate can sing this and pull it off - whilst I appreciate the kate covers - they always end up being second rate (a good 2nd rate eg utah saints, placebo) - but this is like others have said - airy-fairy and generic ...and I would add boring...

www.lesbian.pro

This is garbage. Sounds like a high school student did this on their eight track.

Sean

I dunno...I think it's ok for the the original AND the cover to both be good. I dig it.

/site_media/uploads/images/users/prefix/no-user-pic.gifiketurnersaveslives

Forums

More Forum Posts...

Latest Comments

    Recommended

    Contests

    More Contests...