Monday 9 March 2009

CocoRosie - Noah's Ark (2005)


CocoRosie are an experimental duo of American sisters based in France. Their sound, as with many experimental artists is hard to categorise, but the overall result is engaging and at many points beautiful.

  1. Sierra Rose "Rosie" Casady moved to France to pursue a career as an opera singer. She studied in Paris where she was later reunited with her sister Bianca Leilani "Coco" forming the band in 2003.

Although throughout their work there are moments of obvious technical expertise, many parts sound raw and obtuse. The vocals are often harsh and stuttered, but with a control and a rich engaging quality. Sierra plays guitar piano and harp while Bianca a variety of strange sounds ranging from childrens toys through to standard percussion instruments. They often sound disjointed yet somehow very right.

The Album Noah's Ark (2005) is the duo's second and for me is a real success. Saying that, it starts rather weakly with a track entitled K-hole, which paints an appropriate musical picture for the title, but is quite disappointing when compared to the rest of the album. The second track sets the scene and injects an instant attention grabbing beauty when Anthony Hegarty starts the track off with his distinctive vocals. The track is a delicate balance of a classic piano melody over some spacious crackling beats with the regular band vocals almost competing with Anthony's for the strangest and most beautiful sound.

The album carrys on from here with no disappointments and demands multiple listening. This is an album best enjoyed on your own with the comfort of a sofa and no distraction.

For those torrent types here is an address to find a download.
http://btjunkie.org/torrent/Cocorosie-Noah-s-Ark-2005/3796a75d4718ff26f3cce83e2dd505d9dc88796b4073

1 comment:

  1. Matt and I have both enjoyed the ride on Noah’s Ark. Side by side we walked the ramp onto the promised boat of future fulfilment and, ultimately, life. As the macabre massacre of the Lord’s first failed foray into the creation of worthy, free-willed sentient life unfolds around us we snuggled down to a blissful ride through the freak folk miasma. Miasma being the operative word as the sensuous melodies breath through our meditative consciousness, blissfully floating toward the new Jerusalem.

    ReplyDelete