4ZZZ

La Maison de Mon Rêve. 2004.



The debut album from sisters Bianca and Sierra Casady under the moniker of CocoRosie and is a very good one at that. With Sierra bringing operatic vocals and Bianca the complete antithesis of that, this strange mix has provided a startlingly different oddball of a folk album that comes across as rustically dreamy with lo-fi production and an array of weird found sounds.
Opening track Terrible Angels is a wandering folk song with just an acoustic guitar gently played with the sisters singing in harmony, though maybe disharmony would be the better term, though with the found farmyard sounds and the electronic found sounds appearing at the end we are of to an intriguingly beautiful start. By Your Side shows that the intrigue is just not the first track as we have another oddball vocal by the sisters with Bianca's nasally vocal and a piano sounding distant as if 78rpm vinyl is being played. Over the top we have the sound of Sierra singing sweetly with lyrics that are strangely attractive but also chilling
I'll be the best girl you'd ever meet
And for a diamond ring
I'll do these kinds of things
I'll scrub your floor
Never be a bore
I'd tuck you in
I do not snore
I'd wear your black eyes
Bake you apple pies
I won't ask whys
And I try not to cry
Jesus Loves Me starts with Bianca singing softly the chorus and with the sweet vocal and simple guitar we are challenged again
Jesus loves me
But not my wife
Not my ****** friends
Or their ****** lives
But jesus loves me
Dat for sure
'Cause the bible tell me so
A certain attitude is being satirised.
Good Friday is more simple sweetness and a love song that has more of the guitar played simply and slowly along with the sisters disharmony. Again found sounds simmer away to cut the sweetness. Not For Sale has a harp playing away with a simple lyric and at just over a minute is finished before it has begun. Tahiti Love Song has found sounds of the pouring rain and a flute sounding in the distance. We again have the 78rpm minute effect that makes the song sound distant and ancient but then a pot and pan being beaten out of time and what sounds like an air raid siren brings us back to the now. But as the harp segues into Candyland we are presented with a simple sounding tune with ever so light vocal harmonies and the sound of the farm and an aria. This no doubt sounds ridiculous but there is an effectiveness that works. Butterscotch has more vocal disharmony and found sounds of ****erel's crowing and weird electronic sounds under a folk guitar. It has now reached a point in the album when nothing is surprising. West Side has what sound like a toy piano and more found sounds with a strong beat and the sisters sweetly singing for another short song with Madonna giving more lo-fi sounding production and folk like acoustic and more intriguing found sounds. Haitian Love Song is a magical and beautiful song that has a wonderful lyric. The pronunciation of the lyric is of a rustic style, "And I knowed your home" for example. With the odd sounds trundling away over the gentle acoustic guitar somehow it all sounds mysterious and rural and compelling. Lyla finishes and we get the piano sounding old and distant with what sounds like hand crane as the sisters sing dreamily about Yugoslavia.

A fine debut album that is for me the best of the three CocoRosie albums. It is a gentle album though the rough and tumble of the found sounds and the rustic approach give it an experimental edge that 4 years later still sounds fresh. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary within the folk field this weird one could be for you.

Bulldog

Certainly sounds very interesting - I've always (well, for the last year or so) had a bit of a soft spot for this kind of music. I'll have to check this one out sharpish.

Good, concise review. Cheers for posting it

mannny

Cocorosie is such an interesting band. This is my favorite album of their's. I've heard stories that the sisters were like seperated from eachother when they were children and later in life they reunited to make this album.

4ZZZ

Agree. The issue I had with Noah's Ark was that as much as I liked all the songs Bianca's vocal that at times was too discordant. I would have had no issue with but most of the time it did not suit the songs. Beautiful Boyz being a case in point. Great song but the vocal! It just grates. Others may disagree I guess.

I like The Adventures Of Ghosthorse and Stillborn but it is not in the same league as the debut. They are reportedly releasing a new album next year.

I caught them live this year and they where oddly flat and disappointing.

mannny

I actually like The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn the least. I was satisfied with Noah's Ark but they are both no where near the debut. I really love this album and if it wasn't for this one I probably wouldn't have started listening to them.

I'm jamming to "Butterscotch" right now. Such a good song.

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iamnotacamera

Good review for a good debut. Subsequent releases were rather disappointing.

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eloise

Nice post for the review and i also love her new album--Grey Ocean

Stone Birds

i really like their new album (grey oceans) Lemonade is such a beautiful song, what i love about this group so much is that the lyrics have REAL emotion to them.

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