COVENANT CALL THE SHIPS TO PORT SINGLE KA2, SONY RELEASE: AUGUST 15, 2002 REVIEW: AUGUST 13, 2002

From the looks of things, "Call the Ships to Port" has divided the Covenant fans into two distinctive camps. Those who label it a sequel to the club version of "Stalker" and claim it lacks in innovation. And those who find it to continue to nurse the Covenant trademark sound, the old mixed with the new.
I have to say that I could easily take one or two more "Stalker"-like tracks from the Swedes, but in all honesty, I don't find the comparison to be entirely true. "Call the Ships to Port", the first single off the upcoming "Northern Light", has the same kind of beat, but it is built differently. I love the way they fooled me the first time I heard it. The low-key, but very cool chorus, was followed by an even more stompy beat, with intensified strings sweeping a beautiful melody through my mind. It literally rocked my world!
What I crave, though, is more varied vocals from Mr. Simonsson, as I know he is able to really let loose. He does so about three and a half minutes into "Call the Ships to Port" and it pushed the overall impression one step further. Just like that. My grade is based mainly on the single version. The maxi single holds six remixes of the title track, three of which are quite out there and not particularly noteworthy. Thomas P Heckman, who did a great job remixing VNV Nation recently, contributes the best remix to a release that may not break new ground for Covenant, but it should get a lot of rotation in the electro clubs this fall.
"Call the Ships to Port" is a typical Covenant track, and a damn good one, if you ask me.

NIKLAS FORSBERG