Collaborating for the first time, Ben Harper and Rhiannon Giddens have released a new duet of the Nick Drake song“Black Eyed Dog.” Featuring Harper on lap steel and Giddens on banjo, the track is certainly as stark and fragile as Drake was. Listen to the track below…
“Rhiannon and I are both black purveyors of American roots music, and while this is not an anomaly, it is an exception within a subculture,” Harper explained. “We have unquestionably tapped into the same creative well of influence, carrying on the tradition through our own individual instincts and perspectives.
”I’ve been hearing and hearing about Ben Harper for a long time, but had never gotten to meet him until recently at an event in LA and I was immediately struck by a kindred spirit,” Giddens added. “Didn’t have as much to do with the kind of music we play, although we share many, many commonalities black folk playing roots music, but more to do with the spirit that we access when we play it. I felt that spirit n him right off and knew if we ever got the chance, we could make something beautiful together.”
“Black Eyed Dog” was released on Drake’s 1987 compilation album featuring outtakes alternative versions titled Time of No Reply.
