Melodie Citronique by Blonde Redhead is essentially a companion EP to the full-length 2000 release of Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons. As such, it's an interesting effort, featuring different versions of several album cuts, and most of the pieces are sung in either Italian or French. "En Particuleur" is virtually the same as "In Particular", but with a different mix and edit, and in French. "Odiata Per Le Sue Virtu" is "Hated Because of Great Qualities" in Italian with Kazu Makino's surprisingly sexy delivery in that tongue. The highlight however is an original called "Chi è e non è", a rare excursion to folk-rock territory and one of the best songs featuring Amedeo Pace on lead vocals. The rendition of Serge Gainsbourg's "Slogan" is a surprising, but then again expectedly logical, send-up of Stereolab style circa Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Expected, because Serge Gainsbourg was a heavy influence on The Lab, but it was recorded at the In Expression of the Inexpressible sessions, when BR was still firmly in their noise-rock phase. The track ends with dub-inspired percussion and effects. Closing track "Four Damaged Lemons" is a Third Eye Foundation remix of "For the Damaged", which does sound similar to the album version, but with electronic embellishments that predict Blonde Redhead's subsequent reliance on sundry electronic flourishes with synths, drum machines and other devices. This overlooked EP showcases a whole lot different, a more esoteric, more cosmopolitan still, side of the Blonde Redhead.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Blonde Redhead - Melodie Citronique EP
Melodie Citronique by Blonde Redhead is essentially a companion EP to the full-length 2000 release of Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons. As such, it's an interesting effort, featuring different versions of several album cuts, and most of the pieces are sung in either Italian or French. "En Particuleur" is virtually the same as "In Particular", but with a different mix and edit, and in French. "Odiata Per Le Sue Virtu" is "Hated Because of Great Qualities" in Italian with Kazu Makino's surprisingly sexy delivery in that tongue. The highlight however is an original called "Chi è e non è", a rare excursion to folk-rock territory and one of the best songs featuring Amedeo Pace on lead vocals. The rendition of Serge Gainsbourg's "Slogan" is a surprising, but then again expectedly logical, send-up of Stereolab style circa Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Expected, because Serge Gainsbourg was a heavy influence on The Lab, but it was recorded at the In Expression of the Inexpressible sessions, when BR was still firmly in their noise-rock phase. The track ends with dub-inspired percussion and effects. Closing track "Four Damaged Lemons" is a Third Eye Foundation remix of "For the Damaged", which does sound similar to the album version, but with electronic embellishments that predict Blonde Redhead's subsequent reliance on sundry electronic flourishes with synths, drum machines and other devices. This overlooked EP showcases a whole lot different, a more esoteric, more cosmopolitan still, side of the Blonde Redhead.
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