I was deeply delighted to have had access to pre release digital files of the new album by Snowbird - Moon & luna so heres my little review Snowbird - Moon a review by Simon Thornhill Born from love, musical empathy, a baby grand piano discovered on Gumtree and an expired visa, Snowbird duo Stephanie Dosen and Simon Raymonde have crafted an album of exquisite melody and mood that radiates the uncanny mystery of the object it’s named after: Moon - Bella union promo info - Moon is the debut album from Stephanie Dosen & Simon Raymonde recording under the name Snowbird - the album although principally the results of transatlantic nocturnal collaborations between Dosen & Raymonde is wonderfully infused with contributions from : Radioheads drummer Philip Selway and guitarist Ed O’Brien, Midlakes guitarist Eric Pulido and drummer McKenzie Smith along with Paul Gregory & Ol Ketteringham (Lanterns On The Lake) and Jonathan Wilson who all contribute, assist and enable the songs to come to life without ever imposing their vision upon the blueprint laid before them, but rather providing a quiet and subtle empathy with the artists original vision. Simon & Stephanie had collaborated previously on her debut album A Lily For The Spectre which was released via Simons label Bella Union in 2007. They had began to work on sketches of songs under the name Snowbird back in 2009 with the initial results being aired at few intimate shows namely at Union Chapel in London. Although those initial outings were met with warmth & enthusiasm, it would be a few more years before Snowbird would return, with the primary focus for Simon Raymonde being that of Bella Union Records & Stephanie having to return to USA to renew her visa. Thankfully, it was somewhat fated even inevitable, that the Snowbird would awake from its slumber to take flight....... Within the 11 tracks presented on the album there are gloriously gentle moments that slowly envelope and embrace the listener, bathing in the nocturnal shimmering vocals of Stephanie Dosen it is impossible not to be enchanted by a voice so sweet so pretty so delicate. Of course there were always going to be comparisons to Cocteau Twins Elizabeth Fraser, due in no small part to the fact that Simon Raymonde had worked with Elizabeth for nearly 16 years within Cocteau Twins, but although there are clear echoes within Stephanies vocal delivery of Elizabeths legendary work, along with Simons unique arrangements and treatments that had underpinned much of Cocteau Twins celebrated works, Moon is very much an album by two artists who have mastered their crafts of song writing and creating beautifully intricate arranged melodies. So to hold onto those comparisons would only serve a great disservice to this wonderful individual piece of work. The keys themes of the album (which i think best is enjoyed as a whole) are around relationships & memories, whether they be of loves lost (or loved ones departed) childhood dreams or even nightmares, and these thoughts & memories are beautifully described by Dosen who on the track come to the woods invites us to follow the river to search for our names that are written on the leaves of the trees, as if to serve as a reminder that we are of nature itself & not separate from it..... Throughout the album images of forests owls wolves foxes and horses serve to guide the listener through a wonderfully richly imagined world where waking dreams reveal memories, longing, wishes & fears that remain unspoken but uttered in the hushed whispers of Stephanies feather-like voice, gently embraced by Simon Raymondes exquisite piano lines. This is most beautifully illustrated on the track Amelia, which for me sounds like a truly gorgeous reply to the lyrics of when doves cry & sometimes it snows in april by prince .......to crown the horses in your heart I cant tame for a thousand rainy days ......now theres a storm tearing the house down truly heart breaking...... ..also on the track we carry white mice, the most beautiful song about death i have ever heard. Dosen states that when lacy wings decompose where do they go i do not know - the doubt & uncertainty of an afterlife have never been spoken of so tenderly..... The best albums are ones that ask the listener to be patient & listen & listen again, its in the returning that the treasures are revealed. Moon is an album that will over time become like a cherished childhood memory or a favourite book or movie that you return to again and again to simply enjoy the pleasure of remembering the joy of being in love, even though we knew in our hearts it would never last. Thankfully with Moon those memories can live on ......... Moon will be released in double-disc format complete with a bonus album. The second is called Luna, an album of remixes (one for each 11 tracks) by Michigan’s electronic luminary RxGibbs, who expands,annotates and shines a whole new light on the wonder of Snowbird, adding and subtracting beats, creating otherworldly ambient passages, and building the other half of a distinctly beautiful, passionate whole that gives a whole new meaning to the term “moonstruck”. GIBBS successfully re imagines the tracks focusing on differing elements within each track to reveal a hidden skin that with great empathy & grace embraces the works of Dosen & Raymonde without ever trying to detract from the original versions beauty. MOON & LUNA are available to pre-order via Bella Union & are released on the 27th of January. The vinyl version, also a double, includes Cd and is coloured black and white, both weighing in at 180g Gratitude to Simon Raymonde x
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 22:52:37 +0000
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