The third album from Nouvelle Vague sees the French outfit taking their successful formula of alt-rock and punk songs recast by female singers and gently shaking things up a bit. Released overseas last summer, 3 was finally made available digitally here in January.

Replacing the bossa nova and reggae style of the first two albums are arrangements inspired by country and bluegrass music. And though tracks from Depeche Mode, Echo & The Bunnymen, and The Specials once more make the cut, Nouvelle Vague’s 3 sports contributions from some fellas intimately familiar with the original recordings. Martin Gore, Ian McCulloch, and Terry Hall pitch in on “Master And Servant,” “All My Colours,” and “Our Lips Are Sealed,” respectively.

Nouvelle Vague imbues Depeche Mode’s “Master And Servant,” which kicks off 3, with a musical swagger the overtly sexual tune from 1984’s Some Great Reward never really had. And with DM songwriter Gore on board to provide vocal counterpoint to the beguiling style of Mademoiselle Melanie Pain, the result suggests swinging Sixties’ musical partners, Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood. (Dig the use of the mouth harp too.) Hear here:

Purchase Nouvelle Vauge & Martin L. Gore – “Master And Servant” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.