Post-Punk.com
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bands
    • Revival Bands
    • Labels
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
  • Home
  • Bands
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
265K Likes
13K Followers
179K Followers
Subscribe
Post-Punk.com
Post-Punk.com Post-Punk.com
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bands
    • Revival Bands
    • Labels
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
  • New Releases
  • Singles

Listen to Joshua Strachan’s Sweeping Cover of David Bowie’s “As the World Falls Down”

  • January 10, 2022
  • Frank Deserto
37
0
0

It’s been six years since David Bowie passed, each year filled with a palpable longing and a blackstar-shaped hole in our hearts. This past weekend, the world also celebrated what would have been Bowie’s 75th birthday, which culminated in a star-studded livestream performance led by longtime pianist Mike Garson. One of the highlights of this year’s Bowie Celebration was Evan Rachel Wood’s nostalgic performance of Labyrinth‘s centerpiece ballad “As the World Falls Down,” sung beautifully while the worm from the beginning of the film sat in charming reverence. The Jim Henson-driven film, for many of my generation a first glimpse at the mysterious and alluring world of Bowie, recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, and given the film’s plot and the uncertainty of our lives these days, no sentiment I could offer is better than simply: what is time?

In addition to all of these sweetly sombre celebrations, one of our most favorite musicians, Joshua Strachan (Blacklist, Vaura, Meridiane, Azar Swan, Vain Warr). has also offered up a cover of the Labyrinth ballad. Listen below:

For those unfamiliar with the tune, it’s one of the most memorable moments from the film – once our protagonist has gone into a poison peach-induced slumber, she dreams of a glamorous masked ball where she shares an intimate moment with The Goblin King, who has otherwise kidnapped her baby brother. While the intent is for their dance to waste more precious time, there’s a certain sinister adoration shared between the two, the latter who also wishes to possess Sarah yet give her everything she has ever dreamed of, despite both of them working against each other throughout the film. “As the World Falls Down” perfectly encapsulates this magical scene with a twinkling music-box melody, smooth bass lines, a yearning chorus, and of course, David Bowie’s soaring vocals, softly stated yet deeply croon. Strachan’s cover doesn’t break much from the mold of the original, yet serves as a welcome modern take on the song and a gift for anyone celebrating Bowie’s tremendous life and career this past weekend. Strachan’s vocals channel Bowie’s delicate croon perfectly, while subtle electronic flourishes and carefully considered guitar (performed by Dysrhythmia/Gorguts/Vaura’s Kevin Hufnagel) bring out even more beauty in the track.

Strachan offers a few words about selecting this track, and the overarching themes in the song that inform his work:

I was listening to this a lot when I was writing Vaura “Sables” and it’s long been one of my favorite Bowie songs from the period. “Sables” was all about endings, it was very apocalyptic but also influenced by a short book called “The Agony of Eros” by Byung Chul-Han. But “The Lightless Ones” was the closest I ever went on that record to talking about love. The song doesn’t have an object of affection, it sort of imagines the possibility of one, and of an almost perpetual tryst, a love in the shadows.

This Bowie track is almost the connective tissue between that and the dominant emotional space of the new Blacklist record we just finished. There’s a lyric on one of the new Blacklist songs, “what can it mean to fall in love at the end of time, and do we need a companion for the pyre?” Which isn’t terribly uplifting. But I think this Bowie track paints it in a different shade of apocalypse. There’s a delicate beauty to it, a sort of answer to my question, maybe?

“As the World Falls Down” was mixed and mastered by Xavier Paradis of Automelodi and is available for free download via Strachan’s Primal Architecture Records. The cover, featuring a still from Labyrinth‘s ballroom scene, was created and manipulated by Joan Pope (Temple Ov Saturn). As we continue to celebrate the life and times of David’s illustrious career from now into eternity, be sure to play this one loud!

Please support Post-Punk.com! You can do so via:

  • Patreon:

  • or directly via Paypal:

  • Or by using our new Contact form here:

 

Total
37
Shares
Share 37
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Frank Deserto

Bassist of The Harrow, blogger at Systems of Romance.

Previous Article
  • Reviews

Listen to Atlanta-Based Post-Punk Act Picture One’s Retro Synth-Infused Goth Dance LP “Hearts of the Terminus”

  • January 10, 2022
  • Alice Teeple
View Post
Next Article
  • Bands
  • Song Premiere

Australian Goth-Tinged Post-Punk Trio Sacred Hearts Explore Addiction with “Vices”

  • January 11, 2022
  • post-punk.com
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Compilations
  • New Releases

Ukrainian Post-Punk Institution Worn Pop Debut EBM/Synth Charitable Compilation for Ukraine

  • post-punk.com
  • August 4, 2022
View Post
  • New Releases
  • Reviews

Plastic Ivy Explores the Necessity of Transformation in New EP “Aesthetics of the Death Wish”

  • Frank Deserto
  • July 27, 2022
View Post
  • Interview
  • New Releases
  • Song Premiere

We Should Go Driving | Single Premiere and an Interview With Breathless

  • Frank Deserto
  • July 1, 2022
View Post
  • Bands
  • New Releases

Oakland Dark Punk Collective Adrenochrome Release Debut Album “In Memoriam”

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 30, 2022
View Post
  • Bands
  • Collaborations
  • New Releases

Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser Unveils New Song “Apples” from Sun’s Signature

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 15, 2022
View Post
  • New Releases

Post-Punk Duo The Present Moment Announces Vinyl Release For Their “Enough to Drive You Mad” LP

  • Andi Harriman
  • June 15, 2022
View Post
  • Bands
  • Collaborations
  • New Releases

The Soft Moon Returns with the Video for “Him” and Announces New Album and Tour Dates

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 14, 2022
View Post
  • Album Streaming
  • Bands
  • New Releases

Listen to Experimental Post-Punk Outfit Yoo Doo Right’s “A Murmur, Boundless To The East”

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 10, 2022




Facebook
Social Links
Facebook 265K Likes
Twitter 13K Followers
Instagram 179K Followers
Spotify 0




Post-Punk.com
© Copyright POST-PUNK.COM 2022
35 years ago today, The Smiths released “Girlfriend in a Coma”, a single from the band's final studio album “Strangeways, Here We Come” 506 3
40 years ago today, Duran Duran released "Save A Prayer", the third single from their album Rio. 651 14
Dark Electronic Duo She 1 · Him 2 Debut Cyberpunk Video for “Stuck Inside” 180 2
Goth Pop Duo Wingtips Face a Difficult Decision in their Video for "Cross the Line" 605 5
On this day in 1988, INXS released their single 'Never Tear Us Apart' 812 12
Happy 62nd Birthday to U2's David Howell Evans, aka The Edge. 2K 15

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Please support Post-Punk.com! You can do so via...
  • Patreon:
  • Directly via Paypal:
  • Or by using our new Contact form here:
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT