Spray anyone? 2023 sees Spray ring in the new year by bringing their Songs Already Sung project – a collection of carefully curated cover songs – to streaming services. Spray is comprised of Ricardo Autobahn (synthesizers) and Jenny McLaren (vocals, guitars), both formerly (and once again) of the Cuban Boys, who took their chaotic technopunk to number 1 on the Festive 50 (twice), recorded one of the best Peel Sessions ever and went head-to-head with Sir Cliff Richard in a Christmas Chart Battle. For the duo, Songs Already Sung was something of a experiment and a departure from their standard way of working. Says Ricardo in his own inimitable style, “Songs Already Sung was an ongoing project throughout 2022, which built into a whole album month by month of popular beat group Spray performing some great hits of yesteryear.” Though there’s only 12 months in the year, in a very Spray move Songs Already Sung actually comprises 14 tracks. That number is a tribute to both the band’s expansive musical taste, unique approach to the project, and the sheer number of fantastic fan-generated ideas the band received after a callout on social media. As Ricardo stated at the commencement of what was then called the Untitled Covers Project, “We have a number of cover versions to keep our live set interesting, but as for our albums, they’ve been strictly originals only. So, we felt it might be fun, and also a good way of keeping ourselves proactive, to record a covers album, recording and releasing the songs one a month. This allows for an element of interactivity, fan suggestions, and also the possibility we’ll end up with more songs than we expected. Or possibly less.” He added, “These won’t be necessarily what you’d expect from us either. The idea of Spray cover versions is to take something as far away from our oeuvre as we can find and then drag it kicking and screaming into the Spray Universe.” The fourteen tracks on Song Already Sung include classics from The (Detroit) Spinners, Living Color, KISS, Nine Inch Nails, and Tori Amos. Also featured and given the Spray treatment are songs by Roger Whittaker – a rare vocal outing from Ricardo – Hazel O’Connor, Faith No More, Chas and Dave, Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle, The Connells, Lil Nas X, and Blink 182. Last but not least, fans of 70s British educational TV will be intrigued by the inclusion of Paddy Kingsland’s The Boy from Space, given a suitable cosmic-sounding and rather cheeky Spray makeover. The collection of tracks on Song Already Sung is sure to bring a smile to your face, and maybe the odd tear of joy to an eye or two.
Music Available on AnalogueTrash
