Listen: Marika Hackman – “I Follow Rivers” (Lykke Li Cover)

It’s to her credit that Marika Hackman’s taking her time to move towards that much anticipated debut long-player. After two standout EPs last year, she returns next month fresh off a short UK tour with a tantalising new EP, titled Deaf Heat, book-ended by lead track “Deep Green” and a remarkable take on Lykke’s Li’s “I Follow Rivers”.

Retaining the strutting dramatic mood of the original – which Li performed for us in session three years back – against a sedated and lulling drone, Hackman’s truncated version finds an even greater affected depth.

Stripping away percussion, there’s a barren ambiance to it all that centres all attention on the 22-year old South Devoner’s vocal right up until it falls away, leaving a bundle of fine sonic filament to wrap things up. A cover it may be but the EP track bulges with Hackman’s signature: a continual and careful exploration of voice and music, pushing herself ever-forward in interesting and intelligent directions.

The Deaf Heat EP is released on 14 April via Dirty Hit Records.Listen to “I Follow Rivers” below.