Sweet Originality
This is the first time I have heard Mockasin’s work, and
opener Charlotte’s Thong intrigues
immediately, a slow funk groove with a subtle and quite original guitar lead,
and then when Connan sings there is the immediate fragility of a voice with its
falsetto breaks, and other breakages. That guitar is really quite beautiful,
and the vocal does have a slight dissonance that pulls against, but this is the
energy in an otherwise soothing instrumental. And then as the song enters into
its seventh minute, the in-and-out guitar tuning meanders around the overall
prettiness like an insinuation. Then a sudden stop.
Second Momo’s is
gloriously sweet and harmonising, more guitar work plucked delicately as the
vocal continues to develop, a spoken accompaniment along the sung melody.
Something squeaks in among the dialogue and distant-dialogue that opens third
track Last Night, and this becomes a
Prince-esque ballad, the vocal as falsetto-perfect and playful as its
precursor. In researching, I have read that vocals on previous albums have
often been pointedly spirited, yet I don’t think that is what is happening
here. But it is quite distinctive, and continues with what makes this sound genuinely
original.
You Can Do Anything
indulges in more bended guitar playing, here creating a strange imposter of the
oriental, and I have to say again it is intriguing – seemingly new and fresh in
establishing a signature. Con Conn Was
Impatient continues the slow pace of these songs, the voice a falsetto slur
around another clear guitar line. Eerily beautiful.
Listening to so much sameness these days, even when excellent within
that frame, this album is a superb divergence and development. Can’t wait to
listen again.
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