Photo: Hayden Hampton
Los Angeles — a city where dreams are woven from stardust, and nightmares loom in the shadows. Elliott Smith, the bard of urban melancholy, captured this duality in his haunting track “Angeles.” Stripped of its superficial sheen, the song exposes a landscape of broken promises and shadowy deals. It’s a tale of ambition entangled with desperation, a siren’s call that offers everything but delivers nothing but disillusionment.
Smith’s lyrics cut through the Hollywood veneer, revealing a city that preys on innocence and thrives on the shattered hopes of the ambitious. Los Angeles, where dreams are bartered away under neon lights, and the currency of sincerity is as rare as rainfall in a desert. It’s a place where one can lose themselves, ensnared by the seductive yet treacherous embrace of its glamorous demons.
Enter Catherine Moan, who takes on Smith’s dirge and transforms it into a synth-laden lament. Her rendition retains the original’s sting of disappointment, yet infuses it with a spectral beauty. Her ethereal vocals, shimmering with an almost otherworldly effervescence, lend a new depth to the song’s despair, particularly when framed from a different gender’s perspective.
This version becomes a mournful hymn to a city that entices with glitz but delivers heartache. The synths replicate the cold, impersonal allure of the city’s bright lights, while Moan’s voice pierces through with sorrowful clarity. Her interpretation layers the song with melancholy, each note resonating with the ache of deferred dreams and tarnished ambitions.
Smith’s original disillusionment is palpable, but Catherine Moan brings a fresh nuance to it, her voice echoing with the weight of broken promises and shattered illusions. The synth beats pulse like a faltering heartbeat, underscoring the ephemeral nature of fame and the relentless chase of unattainable ideals.
Witness the lyric video for Catherine Moan’s cover of “Angeles” below:
Catherine Moan, the musical guise of the enigmatic Angel Jefferson, weaves together past and present, crafting synth-laden electro-pop that channels the spirits of Madonna, Depeche Mode, and New Order. She made her initial mark with a soulful reimagining of Depeche Mode’s “Fools,” catching the attention of Philadelphia’s Born Losers Records. Her relocation to LA and subsequent collaboration with producer Trey Frye (Korine) led to the birth of her debut album, Chain Reaction, featuring standout tracks like “Drop It!” that blend rhythmic vigor with introspective lyricism.
Listen to “Angeles” via Bandcamp below and order here.
Catherine’s artistic evolution took a dynamic turn with Soda Pop, exchanging the soft whispers of the ’80s for a vibrant dance between electroclash and modern pop. Garnering critical acclaim, she has graced stages from the US coasts to Europe, including a notable performance at SXSW. Her collaboration with Primer on the track “My Heart” further solidified her reputation as a versatile and innovative artist.
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