There’s been much anticipation surrounding the upcoming release of the next album from Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara. The 15-track album is set for release in June of this year, and in the meantime, the flute duo has been tiding us over with a selection of singles to be included on the new project. This week we’ve gotten our hands on the fourth single premiering ahead of this album; a transformative cover of Don’t Dream It’s Over by Australian rock band Crowded House.
A bit of a one-hit-wonder, Don’t Dream It’s Over is no doubt the most recognizable song from this band, but many less committed fans might not recognize the track until we arrive at the hook. As such, the beginning of this much softer rendition has a freeform feeling where the various melodies are explored and expanded upon at the start. It feels loose and relaxed, with room for embellishment and movement within the arrangement.
But as we make our way to the chorus, if you didn’t already recognize the song at hand, you most definitely do now. The first pass through this section is, while recognizable, understated, but it grows in intensity with each instance. As we arrive on a wave of tension at the third rendition of the song’s peak moment, it’s delivered in classic Markoff & Lazzara fashion – with sweeping harmonic highs and delicate intricacies on the way down that can only be delivered by those with both a strong command over their instrument and a deep understanding of using musical structure to convey emotion.
One of the most interesting moments of this cover is the duo’s interpretation of the instrumental solos at the 2:45 mark. The complex phrasings and rapid-paced riffs employed in this section manage to feel very guitar-solo-esque, despite the extreme differences in the two instruments. It’s a fascinating use of composition and musical skill as a way to imitate without sacrifice, keeping the energy and flow of the original intact while still allowing for artistic interpretation.
June can’t come soon enough – we’re exceedingly excited to get our hands on a copy of the upcoming full-length release from Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara. Once again they’ve proved that they can work comfortably in spaces where others playing similar instruments might never tread, let alone tread so successfully. This series of covers has been nothing short of wildly entertaining, and we’ll be waiting on the edge of our seats to see where this talented twosome takes us from here.
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BELOW: Listen to Don’t Dream It’s Over and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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