On its 2001 self-released debut Rabbit Songs (reissued with wider distribution by Bar/None in 2002), Brooklyn band Hem established itself as one of the most promising new acts of the decade. Their secret was simply the sheer beauty of the sound — pastoral folk-pop draped like velvet in richly melodic textures, couched in strings and steel but centered on the beguiling vocals of Sally Ellyson.
If Rabbit Songs had a shortcoming, it was that the songs tended to blend together as an aural coverall; the album made for a great mood-piece, but songwriting was not really its strong point. As such, this five-song EP of covers provides an intriguing new window into Hem’s musical identity, as they apply that same soft sonic touch to interpret a varied lot of tried-and-true popular compositions.
One could argue that their tender reading of the Johnny Cash & June Carter hit “Jackson” drains all the spunk out of the original, but on the other hand, their re-envisioning is bold enough to be intriguing, and beautiful enough to be breathtaking. There’s really no argument over Bruce Springsteen’s “Valentine’s Day” — the harmonies between Ellyson and Steve Curtis are heartbreaking, and their version might just outdo the previously definitive rendition recorded by Jimmy LaFave on his Trail album. Their languidly lovely take on “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes”, the highlight of the recent Elvis Costello tribute album Almost You, is included on this disc as well.
Less successful are attempts at Randy Newman’s “Living Without You” and the Disney tune “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes”; neither leave a lasting impression. But it’s worth it for the other three, which offer a hint as to just how good Hem might become if their songwriting can grow into the exquisite bloom of their stylizing.
