It's difficult to review any Eleni Mandell album without using the words "torchy" and "chanteuse," and Miracle of Five -- her sixth release -- is no exception. However, this recording was approached uniquely. Producer/keyboardist Andy Kaulkin captured Mandell solo, singing the songs while strumming on her nylon-stringed guitar, overdubbing the rest of the band later. While that might seem a bit artificial for such rootsy, jazz-tinged music, the results justify the means. Mandell sounds relaxed and there is a spaciousness to the material resulting from Kaulkin's ability to add and subtract instruments at will. Mandell's voice has shifted from its once edgy PJ Harvey timbre to a far more luxurious, breathy style, similar to Aimee Mann, especially on the languorous "Salt Truck." This is hushed, melancholy music that remains sparse, even stark, despite the addition of such relatively exotic accompaniment as harp, celeste, clarinet and vibes (from X drummer D.J. Bonebrake). The always impressive Nels Cline is credited with guitars, dobro and "weird sounds." He restrains his typically avant-garde, jazzy excursions to bring unusual tones and textures to the project. Kaulkin applies these instruments with the care and detail-oriented touch of a painter, dabbing them into the recordings to provide color but never letting the few solos steal the spotlight from Mandell's mellifluous voice and sharp lyrics. The words are printed in the booklet which makes it easy to follow along as the singer approaches relationships -- good, bad, stagnating, improving and dissolving -- with a sharp poetic grace fleshed out by the gorgeous music. She finds the nooks and crannies in uncomplicated words, bringing layers of meaning to a deceptively simple lyric such as "Your eyes are the same eyes that you had yesterday, so you know who you once were." Her musings add weight and even intensity to the subtle, muted tunes, making this a perfect addition to her existing catalog and arguably, her finest work yet.
eleni mandell was a random find for me. just something i stumbled across in my journey through the maze-like tubes of the internets, but when i heard her, i felt like i just dug up some buried treasure. so soft and slow and sexy and perfect for a sunny, warm, sleepy sunday afternoon.
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I think I will just title my posts after long lyrics from this day forward. I do it a lot anyway, and I may as well do it all the time since I am constantly thinking in song lyrics anyway. Oh, and tonight's title is courtesy of Gram Parsons and really doesn't have anything to do with anything other than it just popped up on the shuffle.Its an odd thing to see your musical taste graying year by ...
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What to post as my first Mog? How about a question? I know you can answer this because if you didn't have these feelings you wouldn't be on MOG anyway.What little part of a song just gives you goosebumps when you hear it? Every time? Is it the opening bars of a band's iconic song, say the deep flange of "How Soon is Now" by The Smiths? Maybe it's sheer power pushed through the speakers, like th...
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My first day of unemployment was a total success! I probably couldn't have done less if I tried...actually...I am glad I will be moving soon...today was fun, but in a week or so I know i will be bored out of my mind...but moving cross country means I have lots of little projects to work on...so I will keep busy...So here is a little musical good night kiss...the lovely and talented Eleni Mandel...
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I think I will just title my posts after long lyrics from this day forward. I do it a lot anyway, and I may as well do it all the time since I am constantly thinking in song lyrics anyway. Oh, and tonight's title is courtesy of Gram Parsons and really doesn't have anything to do with anything other than it just popped up on the shuffle.Its an odd thing to see your musical taste graying year by ...
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SO, last weekend I was on top of my game and drunkenly told some girl that I had met(and subsequently promised my extra Raconteurs ticket to) that I thought her eyes were sort of beer-colored. Smooth, I know. And the fact that said girl still wanted to have ANYTHING to do with me after that debacle should have been my first clue that maybe she wasn't all there. But I am not so smart.So after wo...
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eleni mandell was a random find for me. just something i stumbled across in my journey through the maze-like tubes of the internets, but when i heard her, i felt like i just dug up some buried treasure. so soft and slow and sexy and perfect for a sunny, warm, sleepy sunday afternoon.
More >
What to post as my first Mog? How about a question? I know you can answer this because if you didn't have these feelings you wouldn't be on MOG anyway.What little part of a song just gives you goosebumps when you hear it? Every time? Is it the opening bars of a band's iconic song, say the deep flange of "How Soon is Now" by The Smiths? Maybe it's sheer power pushed through the speakers, like th...
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"My Twin" from Eleni Mandell's Miracle of Five. She's on tour right now so best get yourself out to see her, yes. Lovely.
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"Make-Out King" by Eleni Mandell off of Miracle of Five I can't be seen Kissing the make-out king I know that they'll all be saying She's gone crazy Arms so long His heart is strong And I'm never sleeping again The make-out king Is in my bed And I'm so tired I think I'm a junkie His hair is curly He drinks like nobody knows where he's going And nobody cares what he's saying Dancing like he mig...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Moonglow, Lamp Low |
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| 2 Girls |
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| 3 My Twin |
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| 4 Salt Truck |
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| 5 Wings in His Eyes |
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| 6 Make-Out King |
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| 7 Miracle of Five |
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| 8 Perfect Stranger |
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| 9 Dear Friend |
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| 10 Somebody Else |
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| 11 Beautiful |
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| 12 Miss Me |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Miracle of Five")
