|
more info: |
This
compilation is a tribute to ex-Eric’s trip Julie Doiron whose solo albums are
rife with lo-fi fragile and depressive folk pieces. Released by Paperheart label
(based both in Belgium and Canada), this cd contains 26 songs, which will
delight fans and might bother beginners. However, Paperheart apparently did not
reject cover songs people sent them so the range of interpretations enables
every lo-fi lover to discover pearls. Let’s pass over the introductory and
conclusive pieces half-sung half-joke by one-time band Men which hides Mark
Gaudet from Eric’s Trip.
The
Herman Dune brothers headline this tribute but they just play Doiron’s songs
with their bluesy style, paying attention not to betray her original intention.
In fact, most tracks are close to the originals. Consequently, the quality of
the track often depends on the singer’s voice ability to move you. When the
voice happens to be a male one, it introduces a personal touch but the magic
often fades away. Superxxman (aka Scott Gared from Silver Scooter) fails to be
touching as Julie was with ‘Sweeter’. Sorry, same story with Neil Haverty,
Wio, Orange Glass, The Soft Eyes, Snailhouse. Sometimes it just works: thanks to
The Radiators, Nude’s live belief in ‘oh, these walls’, Mark Raymond who
makes ‘Gone, gone’ as shivering as Julie’s but in a more resigned way.
What
to think of Loic Bo and Call Me Loretta who seem to treasure background noise
and 4-track recording ? They probably believed that all the bands would pay
homage to Doiron’s lo-fi spirit (particularly CML whose cover seems to be
recorded on a used tape). It’s 2003 and everyone has its own home recording
hardware… Anyway, either it will make you take them for complete losers or it
gives them a particular fragile tone that other try here to achieve in vain.
It’s up to you.
In
the end, bands that draw attention are those which dared change the original
songs and thus venture out of the overwhelming fragile folk lo-fi format of the
album. Marroon Loves Blue, Lousy and Lackadaisical Daisy cover Julie’s song in
an electric lo-fi way referring to Eric’s Trip. Evie hesitates between
Eric’s Trip and lo-fi shoegazing. The best song of the genre is ex-Eric’s
Trip Chris Thompson’s Moon Socket’s version of ‘the best thing for me’
Tino
unfortunately transforms the beautiful and fragile ‘Condescending You’ in a
new wave track sung in a crooner way and scarred by a strange guitar part
reminiscent of Rolling Stones ‘Paint it Black’ which is in other respects a
great song but just puzzles here. Melochrome changes ‘the last time’ into a
dull synth ballad encrusted with fashionable electronic flourishes.
On
the other hand, Thee Moth’s version of ‘soon coming closer’ has a very
delightful 80’s feeling about it. Frenchmen Quaisoir intersperse ‘All Their
Broken Hearts’ with peculiar radio excerpts, decorate it with many sounds to
make the atmosphere more subtle and improve it from its original version.
Finally, let’s credit the best song to Exact Match for their Death Cab for
Cuttie-esque version of ‘And there is still enough’.
-Blacklisted
‘Broken heart’ Igor.
/oct 1st 2003/