Watch Video: Arrica Rose Covers Buggles

Because it is, after all, a wonderful world.

By Fred Mills

A cover song can be like the old saw about Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, but in this instance I trust we have plucked out a delicacy that's pure musical MarieBell: a cover of the Buggles' great - and to some, eternal guilty pleasure - "Video Killed the Radio Star," done up in a manner in which you have definitely never heard. You can check out the haunting video, premiered below, for proof.

Raise your hand when you get to the interpolation of "What A Wonderful World"...

It's by songbird Arrica Rose, whose album (billed to Arrica Rose & the ...'s) Let Alone Sea arrives August 22 on the pOprOck label. One person handily described it as a Cowboy Junkies-style rendition, which is apt, but there's a lot more going on here, everything from early ‘70s Laurel Canyon folk to ‘90s opiated Mazzy Star to some of Lykke Li's more esoteric and muted wanderings.

According to her label, Let Alone Sea was produced by Dan Garcia and was "recorded live to analog tape then layered with Rose's sultry lead vocals, Andrew Sister-esque harmonies, strings, horns, and pretty noise. Arrica Rose coined the name The ...'s ("The Dot Dot Dots") to describe the collaborative nature of her project which evolved from a 4 piece guitar-driven band into an intricate sonic landscape including keys, mandolin, toy piano, omnichord and more."

Rose came of age on the LA punk scene then attended film school and began scoring short films. Meanwhile, she established her pOprOck imprint to release her own home recordings, making her national debut with People Like Us, followed by La La Lost in 2008.  In addition to her music projects, Rose is founder and director of I HEART Inc (www.iheartinc.com) an artist operated non-profit that raises money for charitable programs and organizations via creative projects and events. I HEART's sponsors and supporters include Willie Nelson, Crosby Stills and Nash, Iron & Wine/Sub Pop Records, Rachel Maddow, Jack White, Jesca Hoop, Jackson Browne, Bird & The Bee/Inara George, Martin Guitars, Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studios, Radio Hill, Hotel Café and more.

[Photo Credit: Piper Ferguson]