M Ward and Zooey Deschanel are no stranger to covers, having taken on the odd famous tune in their time. Their fifth is album composed entirely of other peoples’ songs, spanning most of the 20th century and recorded live with a 20-piece orchestra.
Most are distinctly Bacharachesque, from the lush sweep of Johnny Mathis's It's Not for Me to Say to the sultry, sexy Teach Me Tonight. Less reliant on orchestration but no less swoonsome are versions of Elvis Costello's She, Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again and a hymnal take on Unchained Melody.
These songs are classics for a reason, and the duo are wise not to tamper too eccentrically with the arrangement. The result is a sweet, sumptuous tribute to some remarkable songwriters.
