We don’t often feature cover songs here at Unrecorded, so when we do, you’ve got to know that it’s something really special that has transformed the original track into something new and truly creative. This is what we found when we discovered Saer‘s reimagined version of The Police’s 1979 hit single ‘Walking On The Moon’. What sets this rendition apart from other attempts at this British pop-rock staple is that this draws on highly-cinematic sounds, contemporary production and the integration of Saer’s personal interest in space travel.
As Saer explains, the catalyst that led him to turn back to this nostalgic track can be found in recent spacefaring developments:
“The announcement of Artemis 2 – a new mission to the moon stoked my interest and I’d been playing around with the track from chords that’d stuck. I wanted to create something that honoured the original but had a completely different direction. The track blends traditional instrumentation and synths to create a sonic landscape hopefully suited to setting the scene for a new exploration.”
This cinematic twist really does capture the idea of pushing the parameters of what has come before, in the same way that we build on previous innovation. What we first noticed about this cover is the bewitching interplay between a romantic string melody and those dramatic violin swoons, which tastefully sets the scene. This instrumentation is paired with Saer‘s impressive soprano vocal tone, that flows from aerial high notes to earthy singing. You can really hear how the Birmingham-based musician has crafted the sonic interconnection between the sensations of solid ground (whether that be the earth’s or moon’s surface) and the liminal space of the universe. Additionally, it’s really impressive how this track manages to maintain a consistent momentum through this nearly three minute wonder, once again relaying the unending expanse of space and the future discoveries that may lie out there.
Saer’s fascination with technology also carried on over into the official visualiser for ‘Walking On The Moon’, created by Paul Griffin.
You can also listen to ‘Walking On The Moon’ in our Outsiders Club and Shades of Pop playlists.
Follow Saer:
UNRECORDED 