Pitchfork

Arthur Russell: Composer. Maverick. Disco dynamo. In certain circles, the late Charles Arthur Russell Jr. garnered quite the reputation for quality and eclecticism both in his years on earth, and perhaps even moreso in the 15 since his death.

And four of today's finest young artists-- Jens Lekman, Verity Sussman of Electrelane (whose Mia Lily Clarke is a former Pitchfork contributor), Victoria Bergsman of Taken by Trees (and ex-Concretes), and Joel Gibb of the Hidden Cameras-- have paid tribute to Russell on a previously muttered about EP soon to be released in the U.S. from Rough Trade.

Four Songs by Arthur Russell captures Ms. Sussman (here as Vera November) tackling "Our Last Night Together", Jens doing the very obscure "A Little Lost", Taken by Trees' "Make 1, 2", and Joel Gibb's "That's Us/Wild Combination". The EP is already out in Europe, but it hits the U.S. in an exclusively digital way October 23.

And Arthur's father approves. Quoth Charles Arthur Russell Sr. in a press release: "Hearing a different arrangement with another voice after hearing 30 years of Arthur is an exhilaratingly pleasant but strange experience for Arthur's mother and me. These renditions by four talented artists are truly outstanding."

Four Songs by Arthur Russell:

01 Vera November: "Our Last Night Together"
02 Jens Lekman: "A Little Lost"
03 Taken by Trees: "Make 1, 2"
04 Joel Gibb: "That's Us/Wild Combination"