A fantastic take on “Doll Parts” from SaraEllen, the Washington-based artist turns the Hole classic on its head entirely — shifting from its classic grungy ardor into a lushly enticing blend of trip-hop and jazzy pop. The original’s initial solemn guitar strums and gradual rock-ready expanse do make it ripe for dynamic covers, though only a few match SaraEllen’s interpretation, which succeeds in both its vibe-y production and magnetic vocal work.
“I have wanted to cover this song for a long time,” SaraEllen says. “Courtney’s lyrics are perfectly sparse — they say everything so economically. It’s genius— it is self-effacing yet earnest all at once. It’s simple, yet operating with layers of emotion and irony. It passes the “Norwegian Wood” test for me — how can we say a lot with just the right imagery?” SaraEllen initially played around with the track on piano, and then tried a more jazz-styled arrangement — eventually culminating in this fantastic final result.
Breakbeat rhythms and serene piano complement SaraEllen’s melancholic vocal feeling, exuding yearning rather than angst in its “I wanna be…” professions. Brad Carter’s baritone saxophone work shines throughout as well, weaving in with sporadic artfulness as layers of vocals flow with heartfelt allure. The track marks a thorough, replay-inducing success from SaraEllen, who is also half of the indie jazz-pop duo Plaid Lion.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
