We Met In Paris Covers The Cranberries’ “Pretty”

The trans-Atlantic duo releases their sophomore single.

Image source: You Could Be My Aramis Music

We Met in Paris — the trans-Atlantic duo of Mike Bankhead (US) and Ruth Fawcett (UK) — have released almost as many singles as times they’ve physically met.

Their latest is a cover of The Cranberries’ 1993 song, “Pretty,” which takes a heavier approach than the original studio version, converting the near-delicate guitar plucking into a raucous, in-your-face, BPM-boosted, gain-filled riff machine bordering on The Wall-era David Gilmour (thanks to guitarist/engineer, Rich Reuter). Bankhead’s bass and Failure drummer, Kellii Scott, drive the rhythm section, while Fawcett refurbishes Dolores O’Riordan’s vocals with grace — sans the baby yodels, but with deliberation.

“The big challenge with cover versions is always: are you going to produce a copy, or give it a fresh sound?” Fawcett said in an email. “[O’Riordan’s] sound is hers, and hers alone.” Fawcett’s unique vocal choices benefit the band in a way that a straight facsimile couldn’t, showcasing her abilities — thus the project as a whole — without necessitating comparison. However, cover songs will always be judged with the original in mind.

A cover this early on in a band’s existence is perplexing, especially since We Met In Paris only has…