Cheap Beats: Spooky Songs for Halloween
Peggy Jankovic
Gateway Staff
Oct 26, 2012
Halloween is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get spooky. Whether you’re hitting the bars or the books this weekend, there’s always time to get spellbound by these perfectly creepy tunes.
Nouvelle Vague - “The Killing Moon”
The Echo and the Bunnymen original will always be a creepy classic, especially with its strong ties to the cult hit Donnie Darko. Still, the 1984 single has an unshakeable cheesiness that seems to plague every song from that decade. Thankfully, the French cover band Nouvelle Vague has recorded a beautifully crafted cover that offers a fresh update. There’s an added sense of delicacy to all of the original spookiness.
Liz Hodson & Josiah Wolf - “Ain’t No Sunshine”
This Bill Withers cover breathes new life into the 1971 single, where brooding and soulfulness turns chilly and haunting. It’s hard to find something not to like about this bewitchingly dark number.
Mount Eerie - “Over Dark Water”
When it comes to haunting compositions without any cheesy melodrama, Phil Elverum should always be the first thing that comes to mind. This is a standout track off of this May’s Clear Moon, which was released a week after Eleverum played a mesmerizing set here in Edmonton. His love of black metal has always been a strong influence in his work, but it shows now more than ever. “Over Dark Water” plays heavily with dissonance and noise. Add haunting male and female vocals, and you have a hard-hitting track that will make your skin crawl in all the best ways.
Another Phil Elverum essential is “The Moon,” which was written under his old moniker of “The Microphones.” This acoustic version from Song Islands is elevated to a whole new level with its intimate stripped-down arrangement.
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