Cosmetics company Lush has released a new triple-vinyl folk compilation of 1980s songs re-imagined called ‘Life’s What You Make It.’ The triple vinyl selection features the likes of Jackie Oates, Eliza + Martin Carthy, Teddy Thompson, Marry Waterson, Lisa Knapp, Stealing Sheep and many others. Following from the previous releases ‘Self Preservation Society’ and ‘Instant Replay’, ‘Life’s What You Make it‘ has once again been personally curated by Mark Constantine, co-founder of Lush and passionate music fan. It features thirty brand new versions of songs originally recorded between 1981 to 1991, including pop, folk, rock and ballads of the time.
The compilation pairs the familiar and the unfamiliar, collides styles, creates radical re-workings, and provides faithful renditions, all in celebration of a musical golden era. Collectively they formed the soundtrack to Constantine’s decade during Cosmetics to Go and the pre-Lush Cosmetics years: “What I remember from that time is working every hour God sent,” he says. “We’d be waking up at 4 am, switching on the boilers and mixing up product as fast as we could. And there’d always be music playing.”.
The music is available on all main streaming platforms and in selected stores.
Tracklist:
Side A
1. Life In A Northern Town – Afro Celt Sound System
[originally by The Dream Academy, 1985]
2. The Thinner The Air – Lisa Knapp
[originally by The Cocteau Twins, 1986]
3. Untitled – Jackie Oates
[originally by The Cure, 1989]
4. What’s Love Got To Do With It – Teddy Thompson
[originally by Tina Turner, 1984]
5. Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam – Eliza & Martin Carthy
[originally by The Vaselines, 1988]
Side B
1. Simply Irresistible – Barney Morse-Brown
[originally by Robert Palmer, 1988]
2. The Island – Ríoghnach Connolly
[originally by Paul Brady, 1985]
3. In The Air Tonight – Ben Murray & Richard Evans
[originally by Phil Collins, 1981]
4. Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) – Wattle & Daub
[originally by Spandau Ballet, 1982]
5. Cabin Boy – Eliza Carthy
[originally by Tom Robinson, 1984]
Side C
1. The Party’s Over – Da Da La La
[originally by Talk Talk, 1982]
2. There She Goes – Lockwatchers
[originally by The La’s, 1988]
3. Duel – Marry Waterson
[originally by Propaganda, 1985]
4. It Ain’t What You Do (It’s the Way That You Do It) – Palm Skin Productions featuring Ríoghnach Connolly
[originally by Fun Boy Three and Bananarama, 1982]
5. Fifteen Minutes – Teddy Thompson
[originally by Kirsty MacColl, 1989]
Side D
1. Come As You Are – Barney Morse-Brown
[originally by Nirvana, 1991]
2. Cloudbusting – Martha Tilston
[originally by Kate Bush, 1985]
3. Little Fluffy Clouds – Palm Skin Productions
[originally by The Orb, 1990]
4. Hippychick – Beagle & Amalthea
[originally by Soho, 1990]
5. Enter Sandman – Fibreglass
[originally by Metallica, 1991]
Side E
1. Blister In The Sun – Stealing Sheep
[originally by Violent Femmes, 1983]
2. Dance Me to the End of Love – Jackie Oates
[originally by Leonard Cohen, 1984]
3. Paint A Rumour – Honeyfeet
[originally by Eurythmics, 1983]
4. Everywhere – Sheema Mukherjee
[originally by Fleetwood Mac, 1987]
5. Wig – The Duloks
[originally by The B-52s, 1986]
Side F
1. Long Hot Summer – Honeyfeet
[originally by The Style Council, 1983]
2. Here Comes The Rain Again – Marry Waterson
[originally by Eurythmics, 1984]
3. The Opium Eaters – Lockwatchers
[originally by Madness, 1981]
4. Small Blue Thing – Rosie Doonan
[originally by Suzanne Vega, 1985]
5. Life’s What You Make It – Julie Tippetts
[originally by Talk Talk, 1985]
