The shadowy blue-black cover artwork (complete with sultry model) is an obvious homage to vintage cool jazz albums, but
Spain's
compositions are much more concerned with the dark and restless
interiors of the psyche than those you'll find on any 1950s jazz record.
It's no secret that
Spain
are trying to evoke a brooding, late-night atmosphere, and the quartet
succeeds at doing this with its seductive drones (with lots of
languorous guitar/basslines and shuffle drums) and melancholy, pensive
songs. It's a bit monotonous all at once, though, and
Josh Haden's
raspy, thin vocals don't bring out the potential expressive range of
the material as well as another singer might. They might get tired of
hearing this, but
Spain should consider shopping for a lead vocalist if they want to realize their full potential;
Haden ain't no
Margo Timmins,
Lou Reed, or even
Mimi Goese (from the obscure, somewhat similar late-'80s band
Hugo Largo).
aCá
No comments:
Post a Comment