Lush co-founder Mark Constantine proudly presents an enchanting rendition this Valentine’s Day, as acclaimed folk artist Jackie Oates reimagines the beloved 1998 dance classic ‘Music Sounds Better With You’. The track appears on the triple vinyl release ‘In the Bath’, available now through Lush’s own Cosmetic Warriors label via Proper Music.
This special Valentine’s release showcases Jackie Oates’ distinctive talent for transforming contemporary music through a personal lens. Known for her beautiful vocal harmonies and mastering the English folk fiddle, Oates has earned multiple BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and critical acclaim for her interpretations of both traditional and modern material. She is no stranger to collaborating with Lush and has been featured on countless releases, including past compilations Self Preservation Society andLife’s What You Make It.
The original version of this single managed to capture the essence of the late 90’s and became one of the most influential electronic music releases of its era. A true representation of summer, it typified the French house sound with carefully chosen samples and gorgeous filters opening and closing. Now, Jackie brings her unique artistic perspective to this dance classic, transforming the signature warm, filtered sound into an intimate and joyful remake of the only track ever recorded by French house trio Stardust (an offshoot of Daft Punk).
“When bands aren’t prodigious and haven’t put out a lot of material, it’s easy for tracks to get forgotten”, says Mark.
Well, here’s a reminder, featuring the wonderful Jackie Oates and some sublime bodhrán playing from Brian Ó hEadhra.
Listen to it here: Stream Music Sounds Better With You – Jackie Oates by Lush Fresh Handmade Sound | Listen online for free on SoundCloud
For those who may be unaware of Lush’s previous compilation albums collated by Mark, within them you’ll find a wide-ranging array of covers, each album spotlighting a different decade in music filled with songs that have shaped and influenced him and his career during each era – starting with Self Preservation Society’s tribute to the 60s, Instant Replay then took on the 70s and Life’s What You Make It the 80s. In The Bath is of course the next step, featuring 30 brand new versions of songs originally recorded between 1991 to 2001, plus 5 additional bonus tracks, including some of the finest pop, folk, rock and ballads of the time, every cover featuring a different artist’s reinterpretation.
Containing songs by artists as diverse as R.E.M, The Spice Girls, Celine Dion, Tracy Chapman, The Offspring and Depeche Mode, these have been reworked by a galaxy of established and rising stars including frequent Lush collaborators Teddy Thompson, Afro Celt Sound System, Eliza Carthy, Jackie Oates, and Martha Tilston, with first-time appearances from The Lovely Eggs, Alice Faye, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, Joshua Burnside, Lady Maisery and Field Music. From the familiar to the unfamiliar, with unexpected collisions of styles, radical reworkings and faithful renditions, this is a joyful celebration of an eclectic era for music… The result is a magnificently diverse, six-sided jewel of a record, forming the soundtrack to Mark’s decade of the beginning of Lush.
Mark Constantine (Lush co-founder): ‘In my head, I see each of these triple album sets as a part of my autobiography. Granted, the years 1991 to 2001 weren’t quite like the sixties and seventies, where music was so powerful in my life, but I was still listening to a lot of new music, as I still do today. These songs represent some of my very favourite artists and songs from that period.
‘It’s a privilege to be able to commission these albums and help put them together. Everybody puts so much work into every track, and that’s what people always remark upon whenever they listen to them. Such high quality, and such a joy to be involved.’
As for Mark’s personal favourites, he picks title track – Lemon Jelly’s ‘In the Bath’ interpretedhere by Near Jazz Experience, Hedningarna’s 90s folk track ‘Raven’ from sitar player Sheema Mukherjee, Broken Forest’s cover of Bjork’s seminal ‘Human Behaviour,”’ Supergrass favourite ‘Feel Alright,’ covered by Stealing Sheep, Mary Waterson’s take on Spice Girls’ ‘Say You’ll be There’ and this Jackie Oates transformation of Stardust anthem ‘Music Sounds Better With You.’ Other highlights include Scottish singer-songwriter Alice Faye’s lo-fi take on The Dandy Warhols’ mammoth ‘Bohemian Like You’, an eerie folk version of the seminal James single ‘Sometimes’ from Lisa Knapp, a match made in heaven with DIY indie stalwarts The Lovely Eggs covering ‘Cannonball’, originally by The Breeders, and Martha Tilston’s stunning stripped-back interpretation of David Gray’s ‘Babylon’.
A track-by-track breakdown of the album can be read here.
Lush Fresh Handmade Sound
MUSIC THE LUSH WAY – https://ffm.bio/lushfreshhandmadesound
You would be hard pushed to pick up a Lush product that hadn’t been inspired in some part by music. You could say that music is one of their essential ingredients.
Interacting and working alongside musicians rather than just listening to them started with their Spa treatments. Music was to play an important role and become a central part of the therapy, creating the perfect soundtrack to massages, scrubs and soaks. All of Lush’s Spa treatments have bespoke soundtracks created by the ever expanding community of musicians who have become part of the Lush family.
Discover more about Music & Lush with this video.
Lush Fresh Handmade Sound has become the collection of these beautiful Spa records and lovingly curated compilation albums and is striving to support and promote more inspiring new and established artists.
Listen to the ridiculously talented musicians that join us on our soundtracks and compilation albums, moods Playlists and our latest musical crushes here Lush Fresh Handmade Sound
About Lush
Lush invent, manufacture and retail fresh handmade cosmetics, such as the fizzing Bath Bomb and solid Shampoo Bars. A beauty company with a campaigning heart, Lush is on a mission to create a product for every need and a cosmetic revolution to save the planet. The ultimate goal is to leave the world Lusher than we found it. Lush operates a strict policy against animal testing and lead the cosmetics industry in combating over-packaging by developing products that can be sold ‘naked’ to the consumer.
Today Lush operates in 48 countries with over 900 shops, 38 websites shipping worldwide and a global network of native apps, broadcasting channels and digital communities in over 30 languages. www.lush.com
The new compilation album In The Bath is out now. Stream it HERE.
