Formerly working under the name Peo

Formerly working under the name People Eating People, she now releases music as Nouela, including this wonderful, transcendent cover. The ’80s guitar wankery has been replaced by the softest piano, which builds ever-so-slowly, embellished only by the raw lead vocal and its breathy backing. The filtered echo of “black hole sun” is the most obvious sonic reference to the original, and makes for a clever peak in an otherwise sparse arrangement. If Soundgarden’s music is an example of outmoded rock excess, Nouela’s cover demonstrates the benefits of perfectly-weighted restraint, with no gimmicks to obfuscate a lack of talent. It’s lovely.