Kavinsky’s storied “Nightcall,” that crucial number in the opening credits sequence of Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 masterpiece, Drive, has inspired a few covers since the Drive soundtrack changed the landscape. I haven’t been a fan of most of them. However, the duo of Caitlin & Brent has won me over with their haunting and beautiful baroque pop reading of the Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo co-produced original.
One thing you’ll notice is Brent Amaker’s staggeringly low-octave, rum-barrel-aged vocals, which tackle Lovefoxxx’s original part skillfully with a smooth, rumbling timbre. Caitlin Sherman’s lead is a tempered yet soaring take on the heavily processed lead vocal part — replacing the barbed-wire pipes of the original with something more moving. The instrumental part is a departure, too. Instead of the French Touch strut, we get something more akin to a darker iteration of The Wondermints backing Brian Wilson on his version of Smile. (I’m especially partial to the glorious climactic push.) The overall result is something actually more cinematic than Kavinsky’s original. I’m not saying one is better than the other. It’s different flavors of “Nightcall” for your different moods.
Here’s what the duo told Vehlinggo about the track:
Sherman: There’s an infectious quality to the original that drew me in deep on my first view of Drive. That entire soundtrack blended my love of film scoring and pop sensibilities. There was something hypnotic in the repetition that I wanted to translate into our version. Creating this cyclical soundscape the listener could really sink into, I focused “Nightcall” through a ’60s baroque pop lens with a touch of ’80s synth. We flipped the masculine/feminine vocals, which I think gave it a tender and sensual vulnerability in the verse. We used an original Crumar alongside my rare early 1900s piano with an “orchestral” pedal that mimics a harpsichord. Then layered live strings for an organic touch.
Amaker: Flipping the script for this song adds new life to a classic we both love. I’ve been very lucky to collaborate with Caitlin on this project.
The single is available now on streamers. A full-length album, Caitlin & Brent, will be released on Dec. 12 via Rodeo Corp Ltd.
