That's more like it.Oh, hello. Didn't see you come in. I was just listening to a free stream of the new Blonde Redhead album entitled "23" over at "Spinner":http://spinner.aol.com/artists/new-releases-full-cds?defaultTab=3. Well, actually, for the first few minutes I was listening to some band called The Comas' new album, which didn't strike me as very Blonde Redheadish. Then I actually opened my eyes and realized that I'd selected the wrong entire free streamed album. Once Blonde Redhead began to play, with an icy, desolate piano chord that instantly puts you on a glacier on a bright winter morning, I realized that, once again, everything would be alright.If you're not familiar with Blonde Redhead (and admittedly I'm not, like, friends with them or anything) let me get out my "word brush" and "paint" you a "picture" of what this "band" "sounds" "like". Take the stratospheric, vocal styles of Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Frazer and stir it up with the breathy whispers of Múm's Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir (yes I had to look up their names, could you pronounce that?) but, you know, Japanese. Then spread that over music heavily influenced by Sunny Day Real Estate and (some say, but I can't confirm) early Sonic Youth, only way much more spookierly, played by Italian twin brothers and you've got Blonde Redhead, in a nutshell, or a pea pod, or a milk carton.But what about the album? Well, despite having been around since 1993 and having released seven albums and five EPs/Singles this is the first time I've actually sat down and listened to their music, bad Puff, I know, but I've heard a few tracks on "woxy.com":http://woxy.lala.com/ back "in the day" and was impressed and I have been aware of them now for about 2 years. And that's my review of the album...
Just kidding. The album is actually very good. It's got a modern Gothic quality to it without the need for black and white clothing, clown makeup and spiky hair which. without sounding ignorant, may come from Kazu Makino's Japanese heritage. All I'm saying is the songs have a certain Anime vein to them, which is a good thing in this case. The tracks swim in a murky haze of guitar and synth that seems less avant garde and more innocent and elementary, as if they're letting the music go where it wants and not trying to "say" something with every note. It certainly has a the dreamy quality of fine shoegaze; the classic wall of sound, wandering, indecipherable lyrics and that tiny notion in the back of your head that if you held your arms wide out the music could lift you a few inches above the ground. While the album only clocks in at 43 minutes it feels like a day trip as I sit here in quiet appreciation of the amount of content an official three piece can fit into a song. Every time I discover a band like this I instantly wonder what else in life I've been missing. I strive to acquire their back catalog and go the extra mile to see them live. I have a feeling I'm going to be digging a bit deeper into Blonde Redhead.Puffmagic gives "23" by Blonde Redhead 4.5 out of 5 Rob Gordons
Also, in case you didn't click it at the top, "here's the link to hear the full album for free.":http://spinner.aol.com/artists/new-releases-full-cds?defaultTab=3
Comments (3)