The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project “The Task Has Overwhelmed Us”

The long awaited fourth volume of The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project Series (Glitterhouse Records) is finally here. The project was created by late GUN CLUB guitarist Cypress Grove in 2006 and continues to celebrate Jeffrey Lee Pierce and his exceptional songwriting talents in 18 songs starting with the beautiful gospel piano ballad of “Mother Of Earth” by Dave Gahan. The COATBANGERS offer us a garage version of “La La Los Angeles” just before a haunting and soulful “Yellow Eyes” by Jeffrey Lee Pierce featuring Nick Cave and Warren Ellis and some raw punk with “Debbie By The Christmas Tree” by The AMBER LIGHTS who also offer us their powerpop version of “Tiger Girl.” It would have been difficult to find a better voice than Mark Lanegan‘s for “Go Tell The Mountain” and JIM JONES AND THE RIGHTEOUS MIND are an excellent choice to rock “Going Down The River.” Peter Hayes and Leah Shapiro (BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB) joined forces with Humanist and make us drown into some dark psych rock guitar orgy on “The Stranger In Our Town .” Associate producer Suzie Stapleton and Duke Garwood offer us a heartfelt version of “Secret Fires’ and Hugo Race (original BAD SEED (1983-85) takes us to Australia with the bluesy “Tiger Girl” featuring Mick Harvey on drums. Speaking of Australia, Nick Cave sings “On The Other Side” with Debbie Harry and there’s no doubt that Jeffrey would have loved this one. You’ll also hear a very intimate version of “Idiot Waltz” by Cypress Grove and a groovy version full of live energy of “From Death To Texas” by Alejandro Escovedo (The NUNS.) If you need a bit of craziness, then Mark Stewart (The POP GROUP)’s version of “Vodou” will be the one for you and if you want to dive into cinematic darkness then “Time Drains Away” (Lydia Lunch, Jozef Van Wissem and Jim Jarmusch) is all you need. Jeffrey‘s ballad “Lucky Jim” is in good hands with Chris Eckma, and Chantal Acda and if the names of Pam Hogg, Warren Ellis and Youth (KILLING JOKE) sound good together, then just listen to their stunning version of “I Was Ashamed.” SENDELICA (featuring Wonder and Dynamax Roberts) puts an end to this album with the dance rock track “Bad America.” So many different moods and beautiful people celebrating Jeffrey Lee Pierce‘s life, music and art in style. It was really worth the wait. /Laurent C.