Listen: Dan Mangan + Blacksmith - "Ex-Factor (Lauryn Hill cover)"

It's the first record from Mangan and his collection of collaborators, but of course not the first for Mangan, who's built himself a rock-solid rep over the years. Club Meds is due 16 January via City Slang.

The cover of Hill's classic won't feature on the record, but it's fabulous rendition nonetheless, transforming the original into a wiry electronic ballad with the haunting shudder of percussion, and a synth-squall barrelling through the melodies.

In a press release, Mangan explains the choice of cover:

“I’ve always loved this song. I couldn’t think of having heard any covers of Lauryn Hill. Maybe it’s because she’s too amazing and I’m a fool and nobody really *should* cover Lauryn Hill, but this chorus has been in & out of my head since the 90s. It says so much with just a handful of words.”

Listen below. Check after the player for Mangan + Blacksmith's upcoming April UK/EU dates.

April

9 - Cologne, DE - Gebäude 9
10 - Lausanne, CH - Le Romandie
11 - Zurich, CH - Mascotte
12 - Graz, AT - Postgarage
13 - Vienna, AT - Wuk
14 - Munich, DE - Strom
15 - Dresden, DE - Beatpol
16 - Berlin, DE - Postbahnhof
17 - Hamburg, DE - Übel & Gefährlich
18 - Bremen, DE - Nordlicht Festival
19 - Heidelberg, DE - Querbeet Festival
20 - Gent, BE - Cafe Video
21 - Amsterdam, NE - Paradiso (Upstairs)
22 - Paris, FR - Batofar
24 - Manchester, UK - The Deaf Institute
25 - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor
27 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
28 - Bristol, UK - The Thekla
29 - Brighton, UK - Komedia
30 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall