- Label
- Sire
- Release date
- 22nd June 2009
- Genre
- Folk
- Buy this album
- Order CD
More challanging than your average piano chanteuse.
Every generation needs a Kate Bush. Someone for kooky girls to model themselves on and listen to while they decoupage their bedrooms and chat on their burger phones. Someone for skinny boys who read books to fantasise about. In previous generations this role has been served by Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. Regina Spektor is the latest incumbent – she has the interesting background (Russian born, Jewish American), a girly voice that can fly off like a kite and do all manner of odd things, sure plays a mean erm, piano and rejoices in quirky, random lyrics that would look great inside a comic book speech bubble by mask hidden depth.
First track The Calculation fits all expectations – she’s like a female Ben Folds with more comical lyrics: “We made our own computer out of macaroni pieces” – like much of the album it’s folky and poppy and utterly charming.
Elsewhere there’s some oddness – Folding Chair has a fabulous multi layered rhythm including handclaps, finger snapping, stomping and Spektor barking like a mad dog – some sardonic balladry (Laughing With) and on the marvellous Eet the killer combination of wit and melody.
Wonderful.
More to try:
Rufus Wainwright: Want One
Kate Bush: The Kick Inside
Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes
Rikki Lee Jones: Pirates
