Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
It isn’t always easy to cover a song that helped to define the persona of an artist and stay true to the spirit of the original, but in “Who Can It Be Now,” the framing of Cleo Alexandra’s epic metal take on Men at Work isn’t left in ruins as a result of the gilded renovations installed by produces.
“Who Can It Be Now” does not center around one particular verse over another, but instead supports its chorus with a much sleeker and flowing structure that was built to endure any experimental accents that could be applied to its melodies. Cleo Alexandra remains the undisputed object of our affection in this track, but a darker presence is never in dispute.
The riff-born tidal wave that drowns us in unsuspecting harmonies comes blisteringly, and we soon find that there isn’t a single weapon at her disposal that she didn’t use in the final mix. The hooks get a fresh polishing and shift a bit smoother here than they did before, and the drums are a particularly big draw in their own right, pulling us asunder and into the depths of Alexandra’s emotional delivery of lyrics for an unforgettably metallic ride.
Try as it might, the doomy rhythm of “Who Can It Be Now” isn’t as abrasive as the melodies are, and the percussion acts as the tight mediator between the two. The drumming balances everything in this song out and keeps the tempo from becoming so aggressive and reckless that we lose sight of Alexandra’s incredible voice.
In the mix, the vocals are put right beside the engineered bluster of the guitars, but they don’t compete for our attention. Everything in this song has a very specific place to sit and part to play, and thanks to the nimbly constructed drum patterns nothing ever becomes experimental to a fault. Alexandra deserves a lot of credit for this cover, as she touches on a lot more ground than others have, ultimately telling critics that there’s so much more to her identity that we’ve yet to even explore.
You don’t have to be a serious metalhead in the traditional sense to fall hard for “Who Can It Be Now,” or the darkness-tinged music video made to promote its release. However, it should be said that listeners with a keen ear for intellectually stimulating audio that transcends genre barriers and puts bold melodies above everything else will likely find a solid hit in this single, which isn’t shy about going beyond where most artists in Cleo Alexandra’s position would feel comfortable visiting sonically.
There’s no inhibition to behold in this song, nor is there a cocky arrogance in the execution of its steamy harmonies. Alexandra can nail a cover, and this single is less about getting her brand into the mainstream conversation and more about expressing something unique and possible only through tribute. She accomplished what she set out to with this song, and I look forward to possibly seeing what she decides to take on next.
Winston Hennessey III
