Malik & Petitte ~ Sweet Jane (Velvet Underground/Lou Reed Tribute)

I must admit I'm not actually very knowledgeable about Lou Reed, but after his sad passing last week it was hard not to be touched by the tributes paid to him that demonstrated his very real influence on today's musicians. One of my favourite new up & coming indie bands, Malik & Petitte, put their own version of the classic song Sweet Jane online - showing not only what a fine songsmith Lou Reed actually was, but elegantly reminding us of what this accomplished duo can achieve when they perform from the heart. What works so incredibly well about the performance is the ease in which the music flows - the guitars are in perfect unison, crafting a rich, laid back textured acoustic sound (yet that accentuates the dramatic when necessary - for example, when the lads sing "I'm in a rock and roll band" in the first verse). Steve (Malik) has an easy going, conversational style vocal that draws you into the song, almost like you're chatting with your mates down the pub. There's a gracious sincerity in his singing too that gives their rendition an added charm & honesty - indeed, you can see how the music infuses both guys in the performance video above; their love for what they do shining through & making it that much more rewarding for the listener. And when Loz (Petitte) joins in with the vocals on the chorus it's like musical alchemy as their voices coalesce to bring added passion & power to the lyrics. In an era where music is dominated by vocoder madness & autotune trickery, it's refreshing to see two chaps take such an organic approach to perfecting their craft - and the results are all the more enjoyable for it.

(Check out their debut EP of original songs here)