Arizona Amp & Alternator “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys”

First, the band members on AA&A’s self-titled debut album: Howie Gelb from alt-country pioneers Giant Sand, backed with a revolving cast that includes M. Ward, Scout Niblett, Grandaddy, and Jeremy from Arcade Fire. Second, the song: stripping all of the jazzy, ambient studio perfection from Traffic’s canonized original and replacing it with a dusty yet spacey vibe, Thrill Jockey’s Arizona Amp and Alternator give “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” (mp3) a gentle, yet far from thorough, reworking. They retain much of Traffic’s druggy atmosphere, but filtered through a “if it’s there, use it” approach to studio ornamentation–there’s seldom a second that elapses without a de-tuned piano or squiggling synth eking its way into the mix (somebody get Jason Lytle away from that thing!)–and what about the “Hard Day’s Night” sample that kicks off this whole affair? A simultaneously faithful and sacreligious cover version. Me likey.

Buy or download Arizona Amp & Alternator from Thrill Jockey here.

Filed under: Arizona Amp & Alternator  cover  Giant Sand  Howe Gelb  Traffic