Meshell Ndegeocello has recruited Cat Power for a cover of the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me.” The second single from Ndegeocello’s duets album Synonym—improbably populated with guests ranging from Chaka Khan to Bill Callahan—builds the synth-pop classic out from a dub reggae groove, with Ndegeocello and Chan Marshall trading verses, conversing in the pre-chorus, and eventually uniting. Listen below.
Ndegeocello launched Synonym with another blast from the 1980s, duetting with Cynthia Erivio on a cover of Aretha Franklin and George Michael’s “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).” Other guests on the LP include Anohni, Brandi Carlile, Khruangbin’s Laura Lee, Lianne La Havas, Moses Sumney, Nick Hakim, Madison Cunningham, and Robert Glasper.
Revisit Jayson Greene’s Sunday Review of Cat Power’s Moon Pix.