Thalia Zedek - Been Here & Gone
(Matador)
Thalia Zedek, former guitarist and singer of Uzi, Live
Skull, and Come, released Been Here And Gone July 31.
This is her first solo album after many years as a
member of a band. Been Here And Gone is warm and
melancholy. Viola, slide guitar, trumpet, and other
instruments accompany Zedek on her guitar, which is
often solid--she's definitely playing rock, but her
guitar is sensitive, and the amount of guitar and
thick chords in a song depends on what the other
instruments are doing.
These other instruments soften the songs, sometimes
adding a sense of sadness to them. Almost every song
has viola in it, which is an appropriate instrument
for this album because it is more mellow and warm than
a violin, but it can also be shrill. It is almost
constant in most songs, usually making a texture in
the background, but sometimes playing melodies along
with other instruments and Thalia's vocals. The slide
guitar also adds to the overall effect, making a song
almost fluid, like in "Excommunications." The songs on
Been Here And Gone are often slow in tempo, but the
tempo doesn't affect their intensity. They are often
unsettling, not only because of the haunting quality
of so many of them, but because of Thalia's voice.
The stripped down, often acoustic instruments
showcases Thalia's distinct voice, which sounds rough
and unpolished over the music, especially on songs
like 1926, in which a gentle acoustic guitar and piano
melody intertwines behind her. Thalia seems careful in
how she presents lyrics, and she does it well. In the
third track, "Strong," the lyrics and vocals are
upfront and carefully pronounced. The words are
deliberate, and match the slow, emphasized beats and
guitar chords. Thalia's voice is low and rough, which
is refreshing, because she's so unlike many female
vocalists who strive for sexy, girlie, playful voices
(not necessarily bad). Thalia sings as she sings, and
doesn't make any apologies, no matter what style of
music she's playing. Her voice is always powerful, and
it matches her music.
Although this album could be categorized as rock, it
is anything but ordinary. Been Here And Gone is both
compelling and gentle. The diverse instruments of the
album are used beautifully, and they emphasize Thalia
Zedek's unique voice and song writing ability.
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