It’s more than a decade since Claus Larsen, the super-prolific brain behind industrial pioneers Leæther Strip, launched the covers project Æppreciation with an album jam-packed with vital covers of some truly earth-shattering songs… everything from Soft Cell’s super-startling “Martin” to Judas Priest’s “Breaking The Law.”

Since then, six further volumes have followed and now he’s gearing up for Æppreciation 8, due to drop on September 19, but previewed today with his audacious first single, the Garbage classic “Only Happens When It Rains.”

He chose it, he says, “because it’s one of my favorite Garbage songs. Like many song writers and artists, I am the most inspired when things are ​not going my way or someone close to me is in distress. I’ve always used composing to keep my mental health state in order. 

“A few hours in the studio composing or remixing for others, and I’m back to my old cheerful self.

“I’m also a fan of the band in general so paying tribute to them was important for me. “Doing covers of songs that I love is also a way to learn and become a better song writer. I can highly recommend it to other artists. It is very inspiring.”  

SINGLE: https://orcd.co/leatherstrip_onlyhappywhenitrains

“Only Happy When It Rains” also offers an early taste of what else is in store across the album, however, as Claus continues.

“I chose  pay tribute to some of my favorite female fronted songs.​I am a 100% feminist, so it was time for this album now. All of the singers on this one has been a huge inspiration to me. Maybe not songs most bands would cover, but as always I do what I feel like. They are all done with love and respect.”

Of course this is not the first time Claus has stepped in this direction. That very first volume of Æppreciation included songs originally performed by PJ Harvey, Siouxsie, Alison Moyet and Cher, since when classics by Marianne Faithfull, Kim Wilde, Nena, Bjork, Claudia Brücken and Annie Lennox are among those to​ have passed beneath his gaze.

This time around, that impressive roll call expands even further, as Shirley Manson is joined by Ladytron, Madonna, Robyn and more, across a breathless a celebration of powerful voices, seen through the lens of one of industrial music’s most enduring provocateurs!

And, equally excitingly, Claus assures us that “I am already working on the next volume.”

CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=le%C3%A6ther+strip+%C3%A6ppreciation+viii
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/leatherstrip_appreciationviii

Track listing:

1. Only Happy When It Rains
2. Pain
3. Destroy Everything You Touch
4. Situation
5. Live To Tell
6. Fetish
7. Dancing On My Own
8. What Else Is There
9. Boy
10. Somebody Told Me