Double J Pick of the Week

Anna Calvi & David Byrne
Strange Weather

David Byrne has always had exceptional taste, so it’s no surprise to see him teaming up with the uber-cool Anna Calvi for a couple of songs on her latest EP Strange Weather. The release sees Calvi take on renditions of a diverse range of songs, from David Bowie to Connan Mockasin to FKA Twigs to Keren Ann, the original composer of this song.

Their take on Strange Weather is nothing short of stunning. It starts slowly, a haunting piano and Calvi’s unique guitar flourishes sitting behind the eerie melody shared by both artists. But then it builds, and builds, and builds.

The way they build inordinate amounts of tension throughout the song’s five and a half minutes is absolutely gripping. When it comes to its crescendo, there’s a noisy cacophony of cymbal smashes and guitar noise, all the while that simple piano motif continues to underpin the song. Frankly, it all gets very scary.