Though Courtney Barnett has her own record, “End Of The Day”, due out next month, the Australian singer/songwriter took some time to release a cover of Chastity Belt’s all-time track “Different Now.” Originally appearing on their 2017 album “I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone”, it remains the one Chastity Belt song I return to more than any other—because it’s just one of the most beautiful songs ever written. The only person in the world who could cover it and do the record justice is Barnett, who called upon Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa to play drums and synths. Barnett’s vocals take a subdued, scaled back route, as she morphs the song into an ‘80s pop soundscape—all thanks to Mozgawa’s intricate yet bubbly contributions.
This version matches the undeniable catchiness of the original by carving out its own space without stealing the thunder of Chastity Belt’s OG vision. That’s what the best covers do, and Barnett has constructed a perfect homage to the Washington band’s reflective and intimate classic.
Written by Chastity Belt Guitars and Vocals by Courtney Barnett Drums and Synths by Stella Mozgawa
“Different Now” out August 7th, 2023 on Suicide Squeeze Records
The Fat Angel Sings 