Friday, May 22, 2015

Robert covers The Twilight Sad


Robert is covering The Twilight Sad's 'There's a Girl in the Corner'. Why? When? How? More details soon.
(Thanks Randy and Scott)

Update (05/22/15): And here's the full version.



Update (05/12/15): The Twilight Sad premiered their new video at Drowned in Sound today, and talked about Robert's cover:

"We are all massive fans of The Cure. They are one of the biggest influences on our band. We found out Robert Smith was a fan of our band through Stuart [Braithwaite] from Mogwai. Just after the release of our second album he had sent Robert an email saying there was a band from Scotland that he thought he'd like. Robert responded saying he was already a fan. We sent Robert the new record and he replied "IT IS BEAUTIFUL". We knew we wanted to have a special B-Side for the single, so Andy asked Robert if he would be up for doing something with us. Amazingly, he said yes and covered "There's A Girl In The Corner". Hearing someone that is basically one of our musical heroes cover one of our songs and sing the words that I wrote in my bedroom is one of the most amazing things that's happened to us."

And this from XS Noize:

Xs Noize: How did it come about for Robert Smith to cover your song?

JG: We know Stewart from Mogwai who toured with the Cure years ago and he stayed in contact with Robert. On our second record Stewart emailed Robert to say there’s this band I think you will like, I’ll send you the records if you want? Robert got back to him saying he was already a fan and already had everything. Stewart showed us the email and we were like fucking hell!!
So Andy got Robert’s email address to send him the new record when it was finished. When we were thinking of what we wanted to do with the next single Andy emailed him and asked if he would be interested in doing it with us and he said aye!

Xs Noize: I have heard a snippet of the song online and it sounds really good.

JG: I don’t know what we expected to come back, if he might do an acoustic thing or something, but he has went full out production on it. It’s fucking crazy to hear him sing our song, I don’t think we have come to terms with it yet to be honest. He has been really nice about it. We are going to meet him soon which is going to be cool, he seems like a really nice guy as well. To have him endorse what we do is fucking huge for us, it’s absolutely massive it is pretty exciting. The song is getting premiered in the middle of May, so it will be interesting to see what happens with it.

Xs Noize: Do you think you will get to perform the song with Robert?

JG: If he wanted to then of course, Andy might sack me as a singer and get him in (laughs). It would be amazing but he has already given us so much. But if it could happen we would jump at the chance to do it. He sings the song a bit different from me but I found myself at one of the gigs repeating the way he sings it by mistake. Brendan our keyboard played said “Did you notice you did that?” I said I did but I didn’t even mean it, it was mental.

People have got to know the band just from that, they have been writing to us saying they have discovered us by people it posting on their Facebook or whatever. If we win more fans that’s great but just having that is probably the highlight of our careers, it’s an amazing thing to have and is something we would never have expected.

Update (05/08/15): Now available for pre-ordering at Rough Trade.

Update (04/20/15): The Cure's website, Facebook, and Twitter have been updated with the news. Also, all of Robert's share of the proceeds from the single will be donated to Amaze. Once again, thank you so much, Robert, for always giving back and helping others!

Update (04/19/15): Pre-ordering for the limited edition 7" is now open at the band's website. And there should be a digital download available on June 15th as well, according to the band's email newsletter.

Credits: Lyrics James Alexander Graham. Music Andy MacFarlane. Voices & instruments by Robert Smith. Engineered, Produced, and Mixed by Robert Smith at Homestudio. Assisted by Bunny Lake.

Update (04/07/15): Confirmed at XFM -  "The Twilight Sad have confirmed details for their next single, with It Never Was The Same set for a 15 June release on FatCat Records.

In exciting news for fans of the Scottish group, the double A-side 7" will also see Robert Smith cover one of the band's other songs from their album Nobody Wants To Be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave.

The Cure frontman will perform his own version of There's A Girl In The Corner. A 30-second preview of Smith's suitably atmospheric cover can be found here .

Pre-orders for the limited edition 7" will open on 13 April at the band's own website. 

The band's UK and Ireland tour continues for the next few weeks, before a raft of festival dates for the summer."
(Thanks @SleazyMartinez)

Also confirmed on The Twilight Sad's website and Facebook.

Articles about this: NME / Uncut / Sopitas / Muzikalia / Sound of Violence / Live4Ever / DIY


From @thetwilightsad (March 15th, 2015) : "We're 1hr into our all night drive to Austin from Phoenix. I'm currently listening to the most amazing thing that's happened to our band. We can't believe it's actually happened and can't wait to tell you about it. When I say it's the biggest thing that's happened for our band it's a an understatement."

From The Scotsman (Oct. 18th, 2014): "From Shoegaze to a kind of motoric New Wave to the similarity of recent comeback track There’s a Girl in the Corner to The Cure, they combine an often overwhelming emotional onslaught with strident accessibility.

“That’ll do us,” says Graham upon hearing The Cure comparison, speaking on behalf of his absent bandmates Andy MacFarlane (guitar) and Mark Devine (drums). “They’re brilliant, they’re one of the bands each of us has always looked up to. Stuart Braithwaite [guitarist with Glasgow’s Mogwai, friends of and de facto mentors to The Twilight Sad] once told me he gave Robert Smith some of our music, and Robert told him ‘I’ve heard them already’. Graham has sent the new album to Smith, and received a three-word response: “It is beautiful.”

From DIY (Oct. 27th, 2014): “Robert Smith said he was fan – that’s fucking ace. And I wouldn’t swap all we’ve achieved and all we’ve been through for anything else.”

And here's The Twilight Sad covering 'Inbetween Days' in Aug. 2011. (Thanks @TornUpPraise)

55 comments:

  1. This is a great news!!! It sounds so good! Look, Mr Smith has been co producing I guess all of the Cure albums. He has a home studio. The most logical thing would be to expect such a figure like him to dip into the producing art. It's a question of preferences and perhaps more of when than if, he'd start producing other bands...How much more influential he'd get ! Admirations !!! btw, have you heard his C moon cover, he did probably by himself, in his studio ?

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  2. And thanks to you people, here, that I've discovered this amazing Scottish band - The Twilight Sad...So great...

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    1. All of their albums are excellent. I highly recommend 'No One Can Ever Know.'

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    2. Have I missed something....? It doesn't say he is producing them.

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  3. Oh, and I forgot he had already produced guys like And Also The Trees.... well, such amazing times...

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  4. I've been listening to these guys a lot lately, so this is great news. Highly recommend a listen.

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  5. My impression was that Robert Smith is producing his own cover of this band, as he did on C Moon. That's what I meant. I really don't know if he's producing anything else or not.

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  6. they are my favourite band at the time! i heard the song «kill it in the morning» back in 2011 and became a fan. No One Can Ever Know (2012) and Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave (2014) are brilliant albums! ;)

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  7. i saw twilight sad supporting mogwai last year at koko & was really impressed with them.

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  8. https://www.facebook.com/thetwilightsad/photos/a.112119455468482.18713.112060788807682/1091611407519277/?type=1

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  9. Mmmm... Shoegazer vibe is lovely. Thankful for being introduced to this talented band, and a very nice song (both versions).

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  10. talking of shoegaze - i saw the reformed RIDE on sunday night at their first reunion gig in oxford. very very good

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  11. talking of shoegaze - i saw the reformed RIDE on sunday night at their first reunion gig in oxford. very very good

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  12. I don't know this band but have to say I'm not impressed by this clip of Robert. The synth bass is awful.

    Frankly Robert's home recordings always sound just that. I'm not really interested in the purpose of this cover either, I just know it's yet more time fucking around doing other stuff when he could be writing or recording good Cure stuff.

    I enjoyed seeing The Cure live twice in two years recently, but I remain unimpressed with their lack of output and I don't care for endless guest spots and covers.

    That's me though, I'm sure plenty are over the moon with it.

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  13. to be honest, i'm not impressed.

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  14. You guys, sound like the fat critics that actually The Cure and Robert personally revolted all the way. Try to remember, please, that Robert doesn't need to please you specifically. To me it seems there are all so many people that can't be satisfied. If he does something experimental, it's "why didn't he put more guitars, or call Porl", if he makes more guitar driven sound, it goes "why didn't he experiment more". Well, if you listen to his solo recordings, including some of "The Cure" stuff he penned himself in early 83, 84, 85, if you remember covers he did like "Young americans", "More than this", there's always that side of him that he likes to explore that actually you're not so impressed with...If you're a fan and like the music of the Cure, well, then at least try to enjoy the fact that he is still active creatively.

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    1. My personal point is that he isn't active creatively. He is spending time recording covers.

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    2. My personal point is that he isn't active creatively. He is spending time recording covers.

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    3. The world is full of people who have different opnions and tastes to you. Take it in your stride.

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  15. There's a small segment of grumpy old fans who will simply slag off anything the band, or Robert, does these days. It gets very tiresome. Don't let them get to you.

    This sounds wonderful, so far, but I'll reserve judgement until we hear the full track. I know that's crazy, but that's just me.

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  17. For the record, I maintain a love of The Cure. All my comments are from passion. I would love a new album after all these years.

    Craig, I will always appreciate you and this site, but please don't include thought control within the sites remit. The comments you read are the comments people leave based on what they feel.

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    1. he hasn't, he's just pointing out some people are a tad negative.

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    2. Lol. I love how Craig makes an innocuous- and on point- comment about certain grumpy fans, and he's suddenly being accused of thought control. smh

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  18. This says it was supposed to be for sale today. is that accurate? i haven't seen an on sale date anywhere other than here. anyone know any updated info? i really don't want to miss out on this.

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    1. Not on sale, just pre-ordering. But it looks like they changed it. Just says details coming soon. I'll update as soon as a new date is announced.

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  19. Thanks for keeping us posted! I preordered one.

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  20. Bunny Lake's still around.

    Now, is that character working on the future projects with the band?

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    1. Last thing I heard was that Bunny was working on a side project with The Dry Ice

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  21. Why is postage and packing so expensive on their site? (I think $12 is a little excessive for a 7 inch)

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  22. Is this going to be available as an electronic download? I'm not cool enough for vinyl.

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    1. it says download and vinyl on my newsletter :
      Hello,

      You may have read the exciting announcement regarding our next single and we now have more news...

      We will release ‘It Never Was The Same’ via FatCat Records on 15th June. Available on a limited run of colour 7” vinyl and download, the AA-side will also feature a cover of ‘There’s A Girl In The Corner’ by Robert Smith of The Cure. You can hear a preview of his cover here.

      We are also pleased to announce that you can now pre order the single at store.thetwilightsad.com.

      Our tour continues across the UK and the summer festivals, tickets are still availble to some shows here. Hope to see you there.

      Cheers


      so ithink if you waittill june you ll get a download no bother :)

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    2. Yes, sorry I forgot to post that earlier. Fixed it now. Limited 7" and digital download, according to the email they sent out..

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  23. ordered mine. shipping costs are crazy though;-(

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  24. "Also, all of Robert's share of the proceeds from the single will be donated to Amaze. Once again, thank you so much, Robert, for always giving back and helping others!" <3

    Also, with each listen, the more I'm digging the song. <3

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  25. Just seen tts at the scala down the road... Amazing... Better than the cure at Hammersmith ... Not just having a bit of fun for them selves etc etc sigh.... Going to see and also the trees down the road on Friday night with mates ... Should be fun and they will be playing for their fans not themselves ... Rs got selfish down the road. He thought he was being cool thinking that everything he did was for him self thus makes him and artist and was cool... I love the cure and my favourite band but seeing Mogwai , 65 dos and tts kicking Hammersmith out the park depresses me. Rs if you watching stop being so fucking selfish !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  26. Sorry that reads badly ... Had a few beers at scala... My only point is that everyone else sounds better these days.. The guardian had a point. Sigh. Rs had got lazy.. Hanna in the wars was brilliant in Hackney !!! Reeves in Islington was ace ffs !! Hammersmith was fun but that's all it was ... Fun... They used to be the Dons ... Majestic.... Why not try and be that anymore ... Sorry ... Just a bit resentful that I don't think my favourite band try's anymore and I only ever liked them because their music and their attitude ..... Sigh.... Anyway.... Snooze time .... Apologies .....

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  27. Those other bands and artists appreciate the audience ... Rs I don't think has ever appreciated an audience ... He is too much of a genius... Therefore sort of frowns upon an audience and finds the whole adulation a bit strange ... Healthy attitude but doesn't make for a great show when one sings to one self despite how good one is ..... Zzzzzzzzx 1000 apologies Craig.....hic...

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  28. With all the praise from Ben Gibbard lately, anyone else hear some sounds that are Postal Service-like in this track? Maybe the two have been in touch.

    Hope Robert records more one-off tracks and releases them. The preview for this sounds quite decent.

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  29. and also the trees were very good .

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  30. Robert is such a humanitarian and so smart. I wish he were on political shows like Bill Maher's "Real Time"; he'd be far more entertaining than most guests.

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    1. I doubt he is sober at that hour very often :)

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  31. Another great cover after "Not In Love"

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  32. i like it a lot. it's nice to hear robert's voice. the production is really good. i know a lot of people here will complain about the drums/percussion etc, but i think they work within the framework of what he was trying to do. a nice little gift for us.

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  33. Why do I get the feeling that Robert has tons of music laying around his home studio that won't see the light of day for decades.

    PS - Robert's singing sounds great and I dig the track!

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  34. Im surprised of all this (mostly) positive reviews.
    Personally i think its horrible.
    The only good thing here is Roberts voice.
    Btw, how many times does he say "You / She's not coming back? I stopped counting after 20 times

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