Headless Heroes: True Love Will Find You in the End

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I'm always on the lookout for any music featuring the sublime voice of Alela Diane. And recently, I discovered The Silence of Love. This is an album of covers by Headless Heroes, a group featuring Alela as vocalist and some very talented studio instrumentalists. The group was formed in 2008, and the album was released in 2017.

You probably already know that 'True Love ...' is a Daniel Johnston original, first heard on a low-quality, self-release cassette ('Retired Boxer') produced in 1984. It's a very poignant thing to listen to - and it feels much longer than its official 1 minute 50 seconds, although musically the version he re-recorded in 1990 (for the album, also called '1990') is probably a bit more satisfying.

It's a masterful bit of songwriting - so simple, yet so moving; slightly mysterious, but coherent and flowing; comforting and yet with that slightly hollow and heart-achey feel. The song has been covered many,  many times (including by Beck, Wilco and - sublimely - by Katherine Priddy, another favourite vocalist of mine; her version is here).


Image: (c) Headless Heroes

Anyway, back to the Headless Heroes version, which simply put is magical. It's a simple interpretation, which absolutely befits the song. I've seen it said elsewhere that it's overly simple, or fussy, or short of boldness. But to me, this is the right approach for this cover. You can feel that it's been created with sensitivity and respect for the original, and as I've said before, 'less is more' really does work in many cases.

The recording starts with a couple of layers of strummed, layered warm electric guitars, over a bed of noise which I can't quite place - then in come Alela's vocals, which are characteristically crystalline and gem-like in their beauty. They're produced with lots of reverb, set slightly distantly, as if she's singing from slightly across the room from you. She delivers the wisdom of the lines in such a crisp, straightforward and absolutely rock-solid way: you're left in no doubt that everything she sings is absolute truth, and this puts you in a very safe place.

This is a song in which the lyrics should take centre stage - it's folk poetry - and I think that's why this version, sung by someone with a particularly special voice, is elevated above many others.

I also particularly enjoy the lead guitar which comes in to pick out the main melody, and helps to extend the song to over 3 minutes. After that, the main theme of the song is reprised to its conclusion ...

"Don't be sad I know you will

Don't give up until

True love finds you in the end"

... before Alela leaves the room - and leaves you the listener to sit and reflect for a while.

 
I've also added this track to my Originals vs Covers playlist: