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Dec 16, 2016 Web Exclusive By Hays Davis

Polyvinyl Plays Polyvinyl celebrates 20 years of label existence by having a number of its artists run free with covers of their labelmates’ songs. The result is a stylistic cornucopia made doubly pleasing by the obvious joy and care involved in musicians taking liberties with their peers’ creations.

Deerhoof goes high-concept, tackling Xiu Xiu’s “Hi” in the style of White Reaper. Where Jamie Stewart’s tremulous vocals led the electro-pop of the original version, Deerhoof launches in full-on rock style like a Corvette in a downhill race and singer Satomi Matsuzaki perched fearlessly on the hood. White Reaper fires back, taking Deerhoof’s “Exit Only” on a dizzying, hyper-drive blast toward the stars.

The easygoing, trippy vibe of Jacco Gardner’s “Find Yourself” dissipates under of Montreal’s fuzzy crunch, not unlike the song being mechanically reimagined. Owen goes for an even more radical rethinking of Rainer Maria’s “Ears Ring,” leaving the original’s edgy, high-tempo rock behind for gentle meditation with a lovely acoustic setting.

Playing it fairly straight with STRFKR’s “While I’m Alive,” Psychic Twin works from a minimal, beefy bounce that fleshes out into an electronic gauze over lush vocals. Beach Slang ditches reinvention for the sheer pleasure of just playing the hell out of Japandroids’ “Younger Us.”

It’s to the credit of all involved that a batch of songs can be made so freshly appealing while keeping it all in the family. (www.polyvinylrecords.com)

Author rating: 7.5/10