One sweet day back in February, I fell in love. With a song. With an album. With a band.
Here’s Louder again, since it’s the song in question :
Vermillion Lies‘ 2006 album, Separated By Birth is full of lovely guitar driven songs, their style could be called circus folk [yes, I just made that one up]. Overture features electric guitar, trumpet and strange ghosts sounds that lead to Circus Apocalypse and Circus Fish which show the most original side of Vermillion Lies along with Shark Serenade and its toy piano melody. Bad Man is a less surprising piano song followed by the strange Tfird which is simply a part of Drift played backwards. The second half of the album flows in nicely with mostly ballads (Should Fly, Louder, No Good) until White Picket comes up with its crazy beats and Pet Me, Feed Me’s overall craziness [it's actually become my favourite song]. The hidden track, Middleground is wonderfully orchestrated and ends the album on a sweet heartbreaking tone.
Separated By Birth is a debut CD that’s only a tease for what the Boekbinder sisters are capable of. Each song fits a different mood and that’s what makes this album one of these gems that you’ll keep playing over and over again.
In 2008, the sisters released their second album, What’s In The Box? The title refers to their stage show when they pull weird accessories out of a big box after having the audience ask the question.
Grandfather opens the album and sets the strange atmosphere for the rest of the collection of songs. Long Red Hair is an accordion driven “scream along”, Global Warming is fun as can be, Done Wrong is poppy and has kazoo in it!, Wednesday’s Child is emotionally intense, Blue is playful with all its bells and kazoo, She Comes‘ handclaps rhythm is heavy, Interlude 1 brings in the strange again to introduce Bone Yard and its slow melody and harmonies that have to trigger some emotions each time. The Astronomer is great fun with the very cleverly written lyrics, Take Off Your Shirt is pure sweetness, Interlude 2 starts as a serious accordion/drums track but soon becomes hilarious, Dignified reminds me of the Ditty Bops for all the harmonies, Found Myself closes the show with a folky sound.
What’s In The Box brings the craziness of Vermillion Lies to its full dimension and it’s very enjoyable. The Boekbinder sisters write catchy songs that will eventually also amuse you without turning ridiculous and that’s a real performance. It’s different, it’s refreshing and it never gets old.
If you’ve read this post until this point, I have a reward for you! These two albums [plus another EP] are actually available for free here. So, follow the link, listen to them and if you like what you hear, please buy their music!
Since you’ve made it all the way through this post, here’s a bonus :
Vermillion Lies‘ first ever video for Take Off Your Shirt :
mel :: Nov.01.2008 ::
CD Review, Kim Boekbinder, Separated By Birth, Vermillion Lies, What's In The Box?, Zoe Boekbinder ::
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