In 2021, 4AD celebrated its 40th anniversary with Bills and Aches and Blues, a compilation featuring 18 current artists covering iconic tracks from the label’s past. Spanning from The Birthday Party’s 1981 Junkyard to Grimes’ 2012 hits, the album showcases deep connections across eras. Highlights include multiple covers of The Breeders by Tune-Yards, Bradford Cox, and Big Thief, while The Breeders themselves cover His Name Is Alive. Familiar songs like ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Where Is My Mind?’ sit alongside surprising choices like Air Miami’s ‘Seabird’ and Lush’s ‘Sunbathing.’ Named after a line from Cocteau Twins’ ‘Cherry-Coloured Funk,’ the album blends faithful tributes and bold reinventions, with Tkay Maidza’s synth-pop take on ‘Where Is My Mind?’ setting a vibrant tone.
