Chicago label, Numero Group, are – quite rightly – highly respected for their very carefully curated reissues. These include long-running compilation series, such Eccentric Soul, and spotlight retrospectives on cult, overlooked artists. Two examples of the latter would be upstate New York-based singer / songwriter Happy Rhodes’ Ectotrophia, and Maryland punk band, The Hated’s Best Piece Of Shit Vol. 4. To help promo these releases the imprint commissioned a couple of contemporary covers, which this year finally made it to vinyl 45s.

Numero had Helen Ballentine, aka L.A.’s Skullcrusher, reimagine The Hated’s Words Come Back, and Marissa Nadler do the same for Happy Rhodes’ Where Do I Go. Both are fantastic, fragile readings. Epic, ethereal ballads, that consist of little more than angelic vocals, sparse acoustic picking, delicate drones and heavy, heavy reverb. Marissa, whose Washington raised, but now resides in Nashville, Tennessee, reworks Happy’s synth-y, self-released 1992, kinda Kate Bush-esque song as dark, doomed gothic folk. A slow, sorta waltz, broken but beautiful, it reminds me of Texan Lera Lynn’s contributions to the True Detective Season 2 score. The country in it perhaps reflecting Marissa’s current surroundings.

Helen’s homage is also incredibly haunting. The echo and emptiness emphasising the isolation and loneliness in The Hated’s lyrics. Couplets concerned with bullying barbs – from those afraid of anything outside the “norm”. The threats and the pressure we feel to conform. The blows of other’s betrayal and deceit. The lies that we tell ourselves as we throw up mental defences, when cut by the cruel and the careless. Trying to hide hurt that never truly heals. Picture Sinead O’Connor a part of 4AD’s This Mortal Coil. It’s that sublime. Each of these version excursions, in fact, summons that seminal 1980s project, which was a landmark in moody, melancholy “indie” rock. Strikingly similar in tone to The Cocteau Twins’ transformation of Tim Buckley’s Song To The Siren, taken together they demonstrate just how great a Numero follow-up would be, and promise its possibility. Here’s hoping that’s the case.

You can find Numero Group here.