UK artist Penny blends indie influences and alt pop to create a distinctive and emotional sound. Originally from Huddersfield, she released her debut EP, My Secret Powers, in 2022, introducing her bedroom pop aesthetic.
With her new EP, entitled Prom? and released today, Penny has looked to deliver the most fully realised version of her vision. Regularly collaborating with Michael Lovett, of Metronomy and NZCA Lines, and Ash Workman (who has worked with Christine and the Queens, Metronomy and the Klaxons), there is a wonderfully distinctive and wonky edge to Penny’s sound. This is something you can hear on the thick fuzz of bass on the EP’s song Dirty, and the way the whole thing slows to a stop like someone just yanked the turntable’s power out of the wall.
With the release of Prom?, we get to hear Penny’s bold cover of Jeff Buckley’s classic, Lover, You Should’ve Come Over. Covers of such established and influential artists’ work should be treated with caution, and you can hear Penny deliberately lean into that risk on what turns out to be a staggering performance. The result is a track that feels like a gymnast attempting their biggest routine — part of the thrill is in the risk that she falls. Her vocal is warm, syrupy, and yet sounds a little terrified as she retraces Buckley’s footsteps.
What really sets this cover apart is the instrumentation and production. Doing away with the folksy warmth of the original, Penny is instead wrapped in layers of synths, arpeggios and thick bass swirling around her performance with all the drama of stage lights. The result reminds me of the hard left turn that was True Affection on Father John Misty’s I Love You, Honeybear… Both sit somewhere in the intersection of American folk and experimental widescreen electronica. With this cover, we witness Penny take a massive swing for the fences — and we get to hear her nail it.
Check out Lover, You Should’ve Come Over below, and hear the full EP, Prom?, on your streaming platform of choice here.
In addition to listening in the post, you can find almost all the music BlackPlastic covers on the music player of your choice. Add the dedicated playlist below: