London Plane Releases Compelling Bronski Beat Cover

NYC-based post-punk outfit London Plane is known around these parts for their powerful live shows and skilled songwriting. Today, in advance of their third album due sometime this year, the band has released a killer cover of Bronski Beat’s 1984 hit “Smalltown Boy (A Refugee Song).” Former Interpol member Carlos Dengler produced the song and also contributed keys and additional guitar to it. “Smalltown Boy” is from their upcoming album, Villains Heroes Ghosts, which Dengler produced in its entirety. The song’s minimalist intro — just vox and guitar — gives the song a markedly darker tone that isn’t lost when the full band pops up. They deftly capture the earnest beauty of the original and blend that with a contemporary urgency. It’s a real treat. The band’s lineup: Oweinama Biu: Synths. Havovi Cooper: Vocals. Bryan Garbe: Drums. David Mosey: Guitar/Lead Vocals. Andrew B. White: Bass. Kristofer Widholm: Guitar. From the band’s press materials: Subtitled “A Refugee Song”, the original…