Little Beast

« Almost a Swedish one woman band, Christine Owman produced and plays cello, ukulele, guitar, bass, violin, percussion, piano, melodica, glocken- spiel and saw on this intriguing album. She uses these instruments to create a shifting, spectral backdrop to her often multitracked vocals which are similar to that of Julee Cruise as arranged by Angelo Badalmenti although she doesn’t have the hushed essence of innocence invoked by Cruise. While some of the songs embrace the timbrous effect of the cello, others are dominated by a rather dated electro-pop sound such as on Death Bed, which could have been hidden away on a Depeche Mode album. Perhaps the ethereal minimalism of I’m Sorry might offer solace to wounded teenagers moping in their bedrooms especially if they are of a Goth inclination this, along with the sub Siouxie “Devil’s Walk” has been done before and better. There are some moments that do stand out. “I’d Rather Die Than Play Dead,”, apart from being a perfect contender for the soundtrack of the next big Hollywood teen vampire flick, utilises the cello and violin to good effect while Owman’s vocals do sound as if she is singing from beyond the grave. Then there are two songs where Owman is accompanied on vocals by Mark Lanegan (who seems to be making a living these days by adding his gravelly gravitas to vulnerable sounding damsels). “One of The Folks” plays on the lyrics of Blue Suede Shoes on a song that doesn’t really go anywhere. “Familiar Act” however stands head and shoulders above the other fare here. Owman’s cello doggedly runs throughout the song which is peppered with odd effects as Lanegan and Owman trade verses in best Lee Hazlewood fashion while the lyrics seem to allude to what could be a questionable sado-masochistic set up. Perhaps a possibility for the soundtrack if they ever make a movie of the popular supermarket porn novel Fifty Shades of Gray. ~ americana-uk »