Fresh off the back of their highly-praised third LP 'Skinny Fia' at the end of last year, Fontaines DC have now returned to share a cover of Nick Drake's seminal classic 'Cello Song'.
Taken from the forthcoming tribute album 'The Endless Coloured Ways – The Songs Of Nick Drake', which is due out on the 7th July, the new record is the brainchild of Cally Callomon, manager of the Nick Drake Estate, and Jeremy Lascelles, co-founder of Blue Raincoat Music and CEO of Chrysalis Records, and will also feature additional contributions from Let’s Eat Grandma, John Grant, Self Esteem, Emeli Sandé, Guy Garvey, David Gray and many more.
Speaking about the upcoming release, Jeremy said, “Cally and I embarked on this venture with one simple brief to each of the artists – that they ignore the original recording of Nick’s, and reinvent the song in their own unique style. It was really humbling to hear so many similar responses, with everyone saying how important Nick’s music was to them, and how much they wanted to be part of this project. As the results came in one by one, we were thrilled by the brilliance and invention that each artist had shown. They had done exactly what we hoped for - they had made the song their own.”
While Cally Callomon added, “Nick Drake was not that concerned with promoting himself as an artist but I think he would have been overjoyed to hear his art revisited and newly promoted by so many vibrant and talented artists. Jeremy and I also felt it crucial that the album should flow, as a cohesive listening experience, as opposed to a gallery of separate exhibits. Whether we have succeeded in these two ambitions, only the listener can tell. We are honoured and so grateful to all our friends, old and new, who took part in the making of this beautiful set.”
Have a listen to Fontaines DC's reimagining of 'Cello Song' in the player and see the album's full tracklisting below.
'The Endless Coloured Ways – The Songs Of Nick Drake' Tracklist:
Season 1:
1) The Wandering Hearts - Voice From A Mountain (prelude)
2) Fontaines DC - ‘Cello Song
3) Camille - Hazey Jane II
4) Mike Lindsay feat. Guy Garvey - Saturday Sun
5) Bombay Bicycle Club and The Staves - Road
6) Let’s Eat Grandma - From The Morning
7) David Gray - Place To Be
Season 2:
8) John Parish and Aldous Harding - Three Hours
9) Stick In The Wheel - Parasite
10) Ben Harper - Time Has Told Me
11) Emeli Sandé - One Of These Things First
12) Karine Polwart and Kris Drever - Northern Sky
13) Craig Armstrong feat. Self Esteem - Black Eyed Dog
Season 3:
1) Bombay Bicycle Club and The Staves - Road (reprise)
2) Nadia Reid - Poor Boy
3) Christian Lee Hutson feat. Elanor Moss - Which Will
4) Skullcrusher and Gia Margaret - Harvest Breed
5) Katherine Priddy - I Think They’re Leaving Me Behind
6) AURORA - Pink Moon
7) Joe Henry and Meshell Ndegeocello - Time Of No Reply
Season 4:
8) Feist - River Man
9) Liz Phair - Free Ride
10) Philip Selway - Fly
11) John Grant - Day Is Done
12) The Wandering Hearts - Voice From A Mountain