Autopsy Note: The following was written by my friend J. Barcode. Time will tell but he may become a regular contributor to the web site. This is his first effort for the site.
I’m aware that Blonde Redhead has been around for a while, but it wasn’t until listening to 23 that they captured my attention. It’s kinda sad I didn’t catch on sooner, but hey, better late than never. When I received the disc last week I wasn’t sure what to expect. On first listen, during my morning commute (a.k.a. uninterrupted new music listening time), I was so engulfed in the music from these indie rockers I wouldn’t have minded being stuck behind some fender-bender an extra half-hour. Kazu Makino’s vocals are lush and hypnotic like a mellifluous voice of a sultry woman whispering in your ear. The music is very sensual but has a hazy feel to it, not like that of a DIY garage recording, but like that of an 80’s dream pop band with their lulling guitars and eerie atmospheric synths.
The trio have come a long way since their start 14 years ago when they caught the attention of Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth’s drummer), who produced and released their debut self-titled album. After two releases on Shelley’s Smells Like Records, they went off to Chicago based Touch And Go where they released Fake Can Be Just As Good, In an Expression of the Inexpressible, and Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons. For the recording of their 6th album, Misery Is A Butterfly, they decided to part ways with Touch And Go and finance the album themselves. This changed in 2003 when they were signed by the legendary UK record label 4AD. Misery Is A Butterfly was then released in 2004 to critical praise. Did I mention how flippin’ cool it would be to have label-mates like the Pixies, Cocteau Twins, and Lush? Pretty damn cool if you ask me.
Now fast forward to 2007 and their latest opus, 23. “We felt we’d been recording and playing long enough, that it was time to make an album on our own,” remarks Simone, of their decision to self-produce 23. Kazu admits that it “wasn’t an entirely enjoyable experience. Without a producer, a “referee”, we could really get on each other’s cases. It got intense.”
“We were very focused on doing something we hadn’t done before,” agrees Amedeo. “But until we got to the mixing stage, we weren’t sure what direction the album was taking at all. You have to have faith. You also have to really think about what you’re doing; sometimes things happen by accident, and that’s great, but most of the time you really have to work at it.”
“This album is almost like all my fantasies and desires, all the feelings I had, were made real somehow,” reflects Kazu, “I feel very lucky”. Which might explain the number 23 for the album title. It’s Kazu’s lucky number.
One thing is for certain, it’s evident that they veered away from their No Wave and Sonic Youth emulative comparisons. The title-track, “The Dress” and “Spring And By Summer Fall” are my favorites off the album. “23″ with its subtle pitch blends and layered soprano chorus. “The Dress”; a down-tempo track with breathy vocals, spine-tingling synths and lyrics of heartache. “Spring And By Summer Fall”; more of a buoyant track musically but with howling synths that move through the song like a strong wind and intertwine with the droning guitar riffs.
As a club disc jockey, I always get the, “hey! what’s good nowadays?” at least once every couple weeks. Eventually, you learn that you can only say so much about new music you’re digging when drunken attention spans are short and the “boots boots boots” of cheesy pop songs are being hammered over the p.a., which is why I’m attempting to write a blurb about this album and convey my pleasure about this tasty morsel of musical goodness. I will admit. It’s definitely not something for everyone, but its spellbinding grasp on me is what got this poor sap yammering it up with friends.
Blonde Redhead is: Kazu Makino - vocals & guitars, Amedeo Pace - vocals & guitars & Simone Pace - drums. The album, 23, is in stores April 10th here and on April 16th in the UK on 4AD records.
Tracklisting:
1. 23
2. Dr Strangeluv
3. The Dress
4. SW
5. Spring And By Summer Fall
6. Silently
7. Publisher
8. Heroine
9. Top Ranking
10. My Impure Hai
Blonde Redhead’s Official Site, Blonde Redhead on myspace, Buy the new cd 23