Folk freak sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady, recording under the name CocoRosie, have always had a way of making haunting electro-folk pieces that could make people stop in their tracks. Granted, the first reaction might be "What the hell is that?", but the more adventurous listener will soon be hooked by the strange innocence of the Casady sisters' music. Now, with the release of their second album Noah's Ark, the duo have created a stunning batch of sounds and songs that carry their musical mission one step further.
The 12 tracks on CocoRosie's latest album all touch on themes of innocence and despair, but none more so than the opening track "K-hole" where the sisters harmonize about how "all aborted babies/will turn into bambies". Nothing creates more anxiety in the human psyche than the sound of childish voices mixed with an ominous sound mix. The Casady sisters are well aware of this and do a great job of using that built in human fear to their advantage. "Beautiful Boys" aches with the longing of the lost, abandoned or just out and out forgotten. When the women join their haunting pixie voices together on a track like this, it's completely hypnotic.
CocoRosie also have a dreamy side to them that gets plenty of air time as well. "The Sea is Calm" is a lilting piece with French lyrics. It may be popular these days to have random French or Spanish lyrics thrown in to songs, but when the Casady sisters break into the language of the City of Light, it's not a gimmick. Instead, it adds a cool edge that perfectly sets off their lyrics.
If anyone is looking for a breakout song on Noah's Ark, they need look no further than "Armageddon" a lyrical puzzle of a song that mentions both Walt Disney, Mike Tyson and Madison Square Garden in the same sentence. The true wonder of the tune though is that it's a stinging commentary on our media society sung like an old tent show revival song. If this one doesn't have you up on your feet crying out "Hallelujah" to CocoRosie, than you might want to check your pulse for signs of life.
Noah's Ark is one of the year's must-haves and a necessary edition to the collection of any true music lover! |