James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
Withhold your inevitable scepticism at the emergence of another female singer-song writer, for one she's not a Brit School graduate. A Californian red head who debuted at South by Southwest last year, Alison Sudol plays under the stage name A Fine Frenzy. The nod to a Midsummer Night's Dream is the first of the many literary references from the would be author and self confessed anglophile. Alice in Wonderland quite clearly inspired 'The Minnow to the Trout' with its kaleidoscope of fantastical conversations, and elephants sharing peanuts with rats.
She has an intelligent, mature voice that is both vulnerable and strong. The backdrop of piano with flurries of violin sweeps you along. It's a bit like a girly, folksy upbeat Camera Obscura, with a similar haunting, soaring lyric to Sigur Ros (but nowhere near as arty and pretentious). It could easily be dismissed as easy listening but to skim over the surface would miss the subtle depth of her lyrics.
Most tracks would be quite at home on Dawson's Creek, the self taught piano player has a natural talent for turning heartache into film friendly melody. "You Picked me" in particular brings to mind a dreamy, awkward yet impossibly good looking teenager who was "difficult to reach" finding love with coolest indie boy in school. On 'Ashes and Wine' she pleads with her other half for light at the end of the tunnel, aptly capturing the sick desperation of someone clinging to a dead relationship.
The album is called "One Cell in the Sea" and unlike most artists, who may well use a clever contraption involving manatees to pick a title, she's actually given this some thought, weaving the sea motif into every track. I’ve had this on in my car for the past week and absolutely love it!
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