In 2021, Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan recorded a covers album with electronica production duo Soulsavers called Imposter. On it, he tackled songs by Neil Young, Mark Lanegan, Eartha Kitt, and more. We thought it was pretty good.
Now, even as Depeche Mode prepares to release its own next album, Gahan is back with another cover. This one finds him paired with a different producer, Kurt Uenala, and tackling a different band: The Raveonettes. For an upcoming tribute album to the Danish surf-shoegaze duo, he sang a nearly unrecognizable version of their early song “Chains.”
Sun Rose Wagner, one-half of The Raveonettes, wrote on Instagram:
We first met Dave back in 2005 when we supported Depeche Mode on their US tour… Wow, what an experience! People always measure success in terms of album sales, chart positions, etc but for me succes [sic] was always about dreaming BIG and believing in yourself and what you do and stand for… Having Dave interpret one of our songs is success to me! It’s an honor and it shows that daydreaming as a kid is a good and creative thing to do even though people might call you an introvert or diagnose you with ADHD or whatever, fuck that! DREAM BIG!
The Raveonettes Presents: Rip It Off comes out August 23. It features musicians covering every song on the band’s debut album Whip It On. Contributors include The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Eagles of Death Metal, and more. One other song has already been released: Trentemøller tackling “Cops On Our Trail.” You can hear that below too, and watch a cool video of them doing it live.
