A cover is one thing, but orchestral arrangements for the entirety of one of rock music’s most beloved albums is a separate feat altogether. Orchestral, chamber rock band Mother Falcon set out to do just that with their rendition of Radiohead’s Ok Computer. The project was fully realized last year, and the band has spent much time touring with the show since. The past two nights at Spider House Ballroom, Mother Falcon performed these songs for the final times.
One issue with a cover song (or a series of cover songs) lies in the fact that much of contemporary music is created with the same instruments. Mother Falcon sits at an advantage by being able to present Radiohead’s songs not only by using completely different instruments but also by accessing new dimensions of melody and depth of sonic texture. Many of the songs remain structurally faithful to their original versions, but Claire Puckett’s vocals on several tracks offer an immediately divergent vibe. For example, “Exit Music (For A Film)” is sung by Puckett almost a cappella with the exception of some shrill, eerie cello notes that perfectly resemble sounds in the original version. Mother Falcon’s version never explodes in percussion though, as the band maintains the minimal arrangement throughout.
Mother Falcon maintains this minimal production through the next track, “Let Down,” which is also sung almost a cappella, featuring only bass root notes and several members of the band harmonizing to great effect. Late album cut “No Surprises” is one of the strongest tracks on Ok Computer and remains so in the hands of Mother Falcon. Tamir Kalifa’s vocals are strong here, and the use of pizzicato with cello acts as a harmonic counterpart to the recognizable guitar line.
The night opened with a short set of original material from Mother Falcon, showcasing their talents as original songwriters. While the Radiohead covers are enjoyable and well-rendered, I found myself equally if not more entranced by the band’s own works. Mother Falcon has seen increased exposure and national praise over the past year, and with elegant performances that merge the worlds of indie rock and chamber music, I expect their popularity and notoriety to continue its upward trend. The band doesn’t have any Austin shows on the horizon, but keep your eyes on their website for any opportunity to see them live. This month saw the recording of MF Computer released, and you can purchase a copy on the band’s Bandcamp page.
All photos © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
