I would be lying if I said that remixes and the like were totally “my kind of thing”, but when I read about a band offering a remixing of The Supremes I couldn’t help but have a listen at least to satisfy my curiosity. What I heard made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up (no joke). Whilst my reaction may have been borderline cliché, White Label are anything but.
Originally from Scotland; White label are a trio now based in London and Berlin. Their album “Stolen Voices” was formed after countless back-and-forth transfers of the work-in-progress files between the UK and Germany via Skype. After which the results were mixed by Andy Jackson (currently overseeing the forthcoming Pink Floyd reissues).
“Jean 1″ is the first song on their album ”Stolen Voices”, and also the cause of said clichéd reaction. It is a Northern Soul reworking of “5:30 Plane” by The Supremes, sung by Jean Terrell. The vocals are great and feel both grainy and hallowed, which makes vinyl what it is, and yet at the same time are clear enough that none of the amazing vocal quality that The Supremes possessed is lost. Weaved in as well are modern touches, such as stuttering Terrell’s voice in parts that remind you whose talent is being showcased.
The rest of the album is a veritable highlight reel of influential artists, taking in the likes of The Beach Boys and David Bowie, each beautifully mixed and arranged. A personal favourite has to be The Beatles track “John 1″. Originally titled “Child Of Nature” on the 1968 Esher Beatles demos for “The White Album”, it has a touch of Simon and Garfunkel‘s “The Sound Of Silence” to it. It feels dreamy, and as with the Supremes track has a rich, full sound that truly encapsulates the spirit of the band.
Both tracks mentioned are streamed free below, as is a link to where you can buy their album – which is well worth the money!
Connect with White Label – Website | Soundcloud
