The Man Who Sold The World by Venusia: Review

by Damien Reid December 8, 2022

December 8, 2022

The Man Who Sold The World by Venusia: Review

Andrew Bayuk and Anisah Alyahya are the two members of Venusia, and both of them compose music, perform instruments, and sing all of the songs that the band produces. Anisah plays the piano as well as the cello, and Andrew plays both the guitar and the bass. Their cover of David Bowie’s notable track “The Man Who Sold The World” is a fitting tribute to the legendary folk artist.

Adding a more alternative and modern appeal to the track, Venusia’s presence on the track is quite polished. The singer’s essence is quite raw, and everything about the cover track oozes Venusia’s unique aesthetic. The chemistry of each instrument especially the orchestral bits adds a bit of flair to the track. Although Bowie’s original take has a charm on its own, there’s no denying that Venusia’s personal take on the track has its melodic footprint displayed eloquently. They seem to mix a better part of the bass into the tune, and the acoustic guitars have a jangly tone to them.

The singer’s performance is as remarkable as their tone. It feels like the life of a historic track coming alive through the accent of a contemporary mindset. However, the thought of such a timeless classic should not be considered aging in terms of instrumentation. But rather serving as a sort of flame that never dies out and for various musicians to harness an equal amount of creativity to keep that fire burning.