Declan Kelly — Diesel n’ Dub

Cover versions most often fail because they are either overly reverential or jokey. When whole albums get the dub treatment, things can get weird. Recent years have seen a few of those with varying degrees of success.

This adaptation of Midnight Oil songs works because the reggae influence was mostly always there, even if it wasn’t obvious. And the vocals are done by some people who can actually sing. While Peter Garrett was a compelling front man, he wasn’t much of a singer.

Contributions like Katie Noonan on Power and the Passion and Emma Donovan on The Dead Heart could be described as revelatory. And some of the profits go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. You know what to do.

****