Fiona Apple has been pretty elusive in the music world for the past seven years, aside from a few live performances and Tumblr posts. Though her contribution is more source material and harmonies here, theres something satisfying about hearing the venerable singer-songwriter team with young newcomer and fan King Princess for a cover of Apples 1999 track I Know.
Originally featured as the closing track on ApplesWhen the Pawn, the song is a painful, heart-wrenching tale of being in love with someone who is taken. Its a simple piano ballad that builds into a lush, jazzy arrangement. King Princess remains faithful to the original in her version, but her Juul-coated throat makes it smokier, and somehow even more exquisitely sullen, than Apples original. Its both bitter and dejected, layered with Apples careful, quiet support behind her.
The cover also shows off a new aspect of King Princess range. Her output thus far has been minimal; she dropped her debut EPMake My Bed last year and filled it with rock-leaning pop stunners full of careful details and biting, lovelorn reflections. She teased her trajectory more with the fun, upbeat Pussy Is God. To follow such a cheeky turn with a heartbreaking cover and to pull off both with complete sincerity and conviction bodes well for this rising stars bright future.