Sunflurry – “Back Again”

Sunflurry – “Back Again” – Single Review

Something special caught my eye when I was reading about this new single from Sunflurry, which is actually a cover of a Matt Kurtz (aka Matt Kurtz & The Mounds) song…it read:  “Our version isn’t about making the song better, it’s about the journey of how his song resonated with us and inspired a new interpretation.”  And of course I love hearing that – how could I not?  Don’t I always say art inspires art?  That whole statement embodies what I believe in many different ways.  I don’t think every cover needs to be, or even has the chance at being, better than the original was…more often than not, it’s a tributary thing…an expression of love for the source material…inspiration.  Then there’s that whole other thing I subscribe to as well, which is that a really well-written song has the opportunity to live multiple lives.  Heck, when you do it right, you can even watch as it crosses genres and stylistic boundaries as well – and how cool is that when it happens, right?  What Ruby & Suki have ALSO achieved here with their version of “Back Again” is of even more vital importance, from my perspective…and that’s how they’ve taken local talent and chosen to help elevate/recognize that.  While it’s no secret that we could all reach into a very deep pool of amazing songs to cover from the mainstream that have likely been covered countless times before, I think that the next phase of musical evolution has a lot to do with recognizing the brilliance of the independent scene and pulling from that instead like they are here with “Back Again.”

For real…think of how many incredible artists, bands, and songs you’ve seen & heard…cuts that would have probably been megahits of their own way back in the day pre-internet/streaming…and now we pass right by’em without a second thought.  Another unbelievably awesome song…cool…what’s next?  I have to shake my head daily realizing how tough it is for this generation to generate the buzz that they deserve – but if we could all just take a cue from Sunflurry here, and the scene began to REALLY support itself…I mean…we’d be in for the dawning of an entirely new era of independent success, just sayin.’  In any event, I’ve got huge respect for Suki and Ruby of Sunflurry shining the spotlight where it should go.  Word on the street is that they’ve got plans to put a whole series of this stuff out there into the world, so keep your eyes peeled for Songs From Dusk, as they continue to feature covers of regional favorites.

Comparison is the devil’s work anyhow, ain’t it?  I’m not here to tell you which version is better than which if I can avoid it…that’s not really what I’m about.  I’ll simply tell ya that I can hear what Sunflurry hears in the original version and why they realized it’s a special song, and that I think Matt Kurtz would be quite honored to hear how their cover has turned out.  It’s one of those pin-drop type of tunes that really has you paying attention to it.  The vocals are sunken in deep into the mix, purposely, and sound fantastic.  The musicianship is as exquisite as ever…we know full well what Ruby and Suki are capable of from way back when we were reviewing their music as The Two’s, long before they became Sunflurry, plus, we’re well aware of Suki’s solo-project in Sand, which we’ve reviewed a couple times as well over the years.  They’ve got a great sense of what makes music important, and they are both well versed in knowing how to go about making it a memorable experience.  They’ve really added a fascinating spin to the depth of “Back Again” when it comes to how they’ve approached it, and it’s really enhanced the song in a sensory way that we can feel from the textures to the tones.  If this is the kind of way they plan to do things on Songs From Dusk, then I think we’re genuinely all in for a significantly special treat for the ears.  They’ve definitely got my attention with what they’ve accomplished in this version of “Back Again” and I’m already excited to hear what else they’ll go on to cover.  The sweetness flows fluidly throughout the music and vocals combined…it’s a song with its own gravitational pull of sonic allure.

So!  In my hopes of hopes, I think our goals are aligned here.  I believe that Suki and Ruby have every intention of you all learning about the music of Matt Kurtz just as much as you might listen to their new cover of his song here.  That’s the point…that’s what they’re doing here…that’s their own unique way of giving back to the scene that has given so much to all of us listening, and I absolutely love that about this new adventure they’re on.  “Back Again” is a stunning beginning that’s inviting, welcoming, and certainly engaging…it’s a song that I felt like I’d never really want to stop listening to, and did my best to test that theory as I spun my way through it this week.  That…guitar (?) around the 1:45 mark…does that have an e-bow on it?  It might just be a regular effect or really cool moment in time…but whatever makes that sound spring through our speakers in the way that it does…you get all the bonus points, it’s magical.  All-in-all though, there’s not an element of this song that I’d remotely think about complaining about – the execution is magnificent, the sound is spectacular, and the heart is completely invested in their combined performance.  For a mellow song, this is completely strong stuff – the results are bulletproof, and speak volumes on behalf of the great songwriting that resides at the core of Matt’s original, while shining just as bright of a light on the extraordinary relationship of Ruby & Suki to be found in the music they make.  From the concept to the final results, every move they’ve made with this cover was the right one to make, and I personally salute their efforts to highlight the talent within the independent scene.

Find out more about Sunflurry from the official website at:  https://www.sunflurrymusic.com

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