A cover of the Billy Fury song, this version is more instantly recognisable from a recent advertising campaign for beer. Whether these songs then ever get rid of that tag once they are released is another question, but thankfully Alice Gold already has a foundation of song-writing of her own and live appearances under her belt, which already puts her miles ahead of the likes of Babylon Zoo.
With hints of KT Tunstall and Marina & The Diamonds, Alice’s vocals have that husky edge and power which don’t actually reflect the artwork imagery depicting her as a vintage, floaty, bangle-wearing festival regular. Saying that, having been on the bills of Glasto, V and T In The Park this summer as well as support slots for Eels and Noah and the Whale, her live credentials feed the desire to check out her other material.
‘Wondrous Place’ maintains the simplicity of the original, with that more acoustic sound, here gets a bit of driving piano loop and bass making a more layered ‘head-nodder’. The great news is that Alice still keeps the mystic in her sultry soul voice while adding her own more rocky edge to an old classic. Not to delve into the X Factor Book of Phrase, but sincerely, she makes it her own.
Thankfully, the ‘modern’ additions in production compared the original don’t allow it to lose the true feeling and of course being able to appreciate those breathtaking lyrics. Unknowingly topical, ‘what a place in a storm, to cuddle up and stay nice and warm, away from harm in my baby’s arms – a wondrous place’.
I’d like to think this song wouldn’t now be associated directly with the advert it features in, despite the time of year, this cover really deserves more than that. It’s not a carbon copy like so many lazy covers tend to be, it’s been brought up to date and with Alice Gold’s already impressive fundamentals I hope the exposure of the advertising association at least encourages more than the drinking public to see what else she’s about.
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With hints of KT Tunstall and Marina & The Diamonds, Alice’s vocals have that husky edge and power which don’t actually reflect the artwork imagery depicting her as a vintage, floaty, bangle-wearing festival regular. Saying that, having been on the bills of Glasto, V and T In The Park this summer as well as support slots for Eels and Noah and the Whale, her live credentials feed the desire to check out her other material.
