There aren’t too many Janet Jackson cover songs out in the world. Topping the original is a tall order, for sure, so the hesitation is understandable. But given the comparison, second-best isn’t such a bad place to be, so I’m not sure why more artists haven’t at least given it a shot.

That’s why I was happy to have come across Cookies‘ cover of Janet’s “Love Will Never Do (Without You).” The Brooklyn duo, which consists of guitarist Ben Sterling (formerly of Mobius Band) and bassist Melissa Metrick, has set the melody of the seventh and final single from 1989’s Rhythm Nation 1814 to the beat of one of their unreleased tracks, “Katharine.”

Trading off vocals, Sterling and Metrick turn “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” into a quasi-couple’s duet. The “Katharine” beat is infectious, and with guitar sounds that are part Prince’s “Kiss,” part Paul Simon’s tour through the African diaspora, Cookies’ head-boppin’ take is no half-baked cover.

Help me welcome Cookies to the very small canon of Janet Jackson covers, and grab a free download below:

Free download of Cookies – “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” (Janet Jackson cover) via the band’s website.