San Francisco-based musician Geographer (real name Mike Deni) has purveyed indie pop romance for the past few years, getting better at it with each release. His third album, Ghost Modern, came out earlier this year, is no departure from his modus operandi, as it features plenty of sweet and airy vocals atop soaring, string-enhanced electronic compositions.

It was while working on Ghost Modern that the idea for his next project hatched. Inspired by a cover he recorded of Arthur Russell’s “This Is How We Walk On The Moon”, he decided to record some more covers of his favorites. This resulted in the Endless Motion, Vol. 1 EP, which is released today and is premiering exclusively on Nerdist. Give all five tracks a listen below.

It’s a cliche to say it at this point, but Geographer really does make these songs his own, which is challenging for these tunes in particular because the original recordings are iconic, firmly rooted in their unique aesthetics. The EP also features covers of songs from Felix Da Housecat, Paul Simon, and Kate Bush, but the clear highlight is his take on New Order’s “Age of Consent”.

By changing the song’s pacing and fundamental instrumentation, Geographer uncovers climaxes, valleys, and other moments that perhaps weren’t as present in the original recording. It has the mark of a successful cover: it stands on its own while allowing the source material to be seen in an exciting new light.

The Endless Motion, Vol. 1 EP is available to stream and purchase on iTunes and Bandcamp, and of course, you can listen below.

—
Featured image courtesy of Geographer/Victoria Smith