....FRIZZ RECORDS is proud to announce our fourth LP release...
LEILA ADU has been described as 'A Nina Simone for the Noughties', and her two acclaimed albums infuse a broadly 'art-rock' approach with elements of torch song, speakeasy blues, avant garde jazz, gamelan, post-rock textures, and a David Lynch style dreamlike b-movie melodrama. As her website has it, exploring the "dissonant edges of familiar forms", but with that kind of 'dissonance' that they once accused Thelonious Monk or Debussy of, the kind that soon betrays it's own compelling melodic and harmonic logic to the attentive listener...
'Dark Joan', Leila's third album as a solo artist, was recorded in Chicago with the legendary Steve Albini (PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsome, Nirvana, Pixies), and Albini's genius has been to strip her sound back to it's essence, and hold it's most distinctive qualities up to the light. It doesn't hurt that this is by far Leila's most powerful set of songs to date, and if anything we are lead even deeper into her world by the pictures painted with just piano (or in some cases harpsichord or a grime-encrusted electric piano) and that voice...
Capable of anything from delicate heartbreaking purity to a fearsome dramatic power, her powers are seemingly limitless, yet unlike most other singers of her calibre, never does she resort to melodrama or show-boating, or any kind of pastiche, instead she employs her resources fully in the expression of her distinctive musical vision and the deep well-spring of her imagination. Nothing ever sounds as though it could have not been sung...
Sweet sounding songs :) I will try to come to Stories but will be in the middle of a move, so may have to wait till that's done to see you play somewhere.
thats kinda funny.... i don't actually know the whole song. maybe by the next sunday we do the acoustic thing ill learn the whole thing. im no robert plant when it comes to those acrobatic vocals tho... lol. thanks for adding!
Thank you for your kind words! 'Cries and Whispers' is one of my favourite movies ever - Bergman is one of the greatest artists of all time. Ryan, your music is amazing!!! I keep listening over and over on MySpace. I will buy 'Naked Shadows' very soon.
I really dig your music! I've been to Shawno a number of times...but never an indian Pow-Wow, I need to do that yet. Take care and thank you for adding me!
I just wanted to drop by and say how much i'm still loving your album Ryan - of all the cds i've aquired this year, yours has been the most played in the flakester mansion - 'to the moon' is probably my favourite, but they're all gems...i've got it on right now - its helping me chill a bit after a crazy day...
