New music: Cults – Everybody Knows

To celebrate the release of his new album , several indie acts are covering their favourite Leonard Cohen song. Old Ideas by New Friends is kick-started by New York band Cults, who tackle Cohen's 1988 track Everybody Knows, premiered here exclusively. The original's almost comic pessimism has resonated with everyone from the state government of New South Wales, which used it to soundtrack an anti-smoking campaign, to Guns N' Roses, who played it as their intro music during the Use Your Illusion tour. Here, Cults slow it down, strip out the cheesy synth line (it was the 80s) and introduce a drum beat, shimmering guitars and a sense of foreboding. While Cohen expresses his disillusionment through detachment, Cults' Madeline Follin delivers each line with eyes clenched shut, as if she hasn't quite given up yet. • You can buy Old Ideas here .