Caned & Able – ‘Lullaby’ Review Music Reviews by Editor - September 30, 20120 The realm of cover songs is always an interesting affair. Often looked at with an alluding negativity from fans, they are generally regarded as lesser works when held in comparison to the original recordings. 2012 Mercury Music Prize Nominee Caned & Able have recently joined the deliberation with their cover of The Cures’s classic, ‘Lullaby’. Personally sanctioned by Robert Smith himself the air of expectation surrounding the song can be described as nothing less than palpable. The original 1989 single is one of The Cure’s best known hits, reaching number five in the UK. The cover is the second single from Caned & Able’s album ‘Cosmosis’ and on listening I can safely say that Caned & Able do not disappoint with their rendition of the classic song. What they have done with ‘Lullaby’ is create and produce a tune that not only has a hefty dose of depth but also a touch of à la mode. The song begins effortlessly with an orchestral arrangement and the beautiful sound of keys is reminiscent to drops of rain falling all around on a cold winter’s day. As the beat and vocals enter, you are almost caught in the hypnotic spell of the “the spiderman” contained within the song. The atmosphere this evokes is undoubtedly powerful and the lyrics “Softly through the shadow of the evening sun” are a reflection of the atmosphere contained within. The vocals from Patrick and Mel deliver an intensely cool but flirtatious feeling throughout and are just as haunting as the original piece yet more crisp and ghostly, leaving you feeling cocooned in a world of mystery and wonder. The hook of the song is heightened by the uniquely styled vocals courtesy of Big G who intersects the track with his own brand of hip hop. As Big G does his thing, you cannot help but nod your head in approval and produce a very visible smile. Overall the song is a triumphant pastiche and one that The Cure fans and Robert Smith himself would certainly find hard not to approve of. Just as the words “The spiderman is always hungry” so will you be for more. The bands Album is released in Oct / Nov. Reviewed by Steve Love