Nouvelle Vague, the brainchild of French producers/arrangers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux, have an interesting musical mission in life: taking 70's and 80's new wave and punk chestnuts and completely transforming them within the style of a drastically different genre of music. Beginning with their self-titled 2004 debut album, the duo initiated their concept with a Brazilian bent, converting songs by Depeche Mode, The Cure and The Clash into swaying bossa nova lounge tracks sung by a bevy of seductive female singers. And, ever stranger, the project proved to be a success, not only with music fans but with the artists they covered with ever-so-tongue-in-cheek audacity.

With new album 3, finally arriving stateside October 20, Nouvelle Vague have taken those artistic seals of approval to a new level, creating duets with a handful of their covers' original performers. Martin Gore of Depeche Mode ("Master and Servant"), Terry Hall of Fun Boy Three ("Our Lips Are Sealed"), Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen ("All My Colors") and Barry Adamson of Magazine ("Parade") all join in the fun trading lyrics with the band's breathy female singers.

But this time the musical style is distinctively American: mostly acoustic, sometimes dusty, references drawn from folk, country and roots rock styles. Whether you're feeling particularly ironic or just in the mood for something different, tracks like the languid, twangy Talking Head's staple "Road to Nowhere" or haunting, creepy "So Lonely" from the Police are not only turned inside out, they're fundamentally reimagined. By the time the song is over you've witnessed the brilliant transformation that becomes a true revelation adding to an even greater appreciation of the track's true heart. This is, as Paste puts it, "post-punk (going) to the spa for treatments", but you're likely to emerge rejuvenated and refreshed...and with a nice big smile on your face.

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Nouvelle Vague - "So Lonely" (from the album 3)

Nouvelle Vague - "Our Lips Are Sealed" (from the album 3)