The Versions

A project sparked during the making of the 30th anniversary edition of Raw Like Sushi, The Versions is neither a set of versions in the reggae sense nor a typical tribute album. Neneh Cherry invited women artists she admires to choose a song off either Raw Like Sushi, Homebrew, or Man -- her first three albums (1989-1996) -- and asked only Anohni to take a specific song, seeing her perfectly suited for "Woman." Cherry treats the album as a proper addition to her own discography and places the contributors images on the sleeve, affirming that The Versions is a two-way tribute dear to her. It throws into relief Cherrys individuality as a songwriter. No matter the age of the material, her unique personal and narrative perspectives -- image-rich character studies and scenes of interpersonal conflict, sharp critiques of male behavior, and the odd silly love song -- apply to the present. The Versions rarely fails to fascinate. Anohni duly turns Man tone-setter "Woman" from burning widescreen soul into a stark, serrated piano ballad with a little more drama and defiance. Greentea Pengs "Buddy X" offers more with its slightly bleary two-step overhaul. Robyn and Mapei, aided by production from Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange), stretch out and have fun with "Buffalo Stance," despite halving the energy level. "Manchild" gets multiple looks, cleverly in the second and second-to-last positions in the sequence: Sias is one of the albums most faithful covers, while Kelsey Lus version transitions from spectral to scorched, playing out like its as much a nod to Mezzanine-era Massive Attack (whose 3D co-wrote the song with Cherry and partner Cameron McVey). Cherrys daughter Tyson and Sudan Archives deliver two of the highlights with personalized takes on deeper cuts. Tyson slides into "Sassy" like its a favorite pair of slippers and goes for a stroll with her head held high, filling the roles of her mother and featured rapper Guru with casual elan. Violinist and singer Sudan Archives "Heart" twists and cuts with such individuality that even those who have worn-out copies of Raw Like Sushi might not realize that its a cover until that skipping-song rhyme near the end. ~ Andy Kellman