CATHERINE TRAICOS – THE AMAZING
At first it seems like an audacious gesture to have an album title as self-congratulatory as this, but when you listen to Catherine Traicos’ second full-length album, it becomes apparent that there is a stroke of irony and perhaps a different context to the use of the word “amazing”. The songs on this album aren’t, as such, amazing; instead, they are slow-burning works of pop art that worm their way into the psyche of the listener, devoid of cheap hooks or wow-factor production. They’re just simple, well-written songs. Catherine’s voice is a smoky thing reminiscent of Cat Power by way of Melanie Kafka, and the crisp analogue production helps to add to the mystery factor, occasionally fooling the listener into a deep nostalgia – at times, she could be mistaken for Grace Slick with the muted soul backing of her band and the haunted reverbs. All the elements are in place here, but with Catherine’s songs there is sometimes a vagueness of melody that belies the smart and direct lyrics, and her fragmented, fragile delivery, while endearing, leaves one wanting the odd ballsy flourish or wild gesture. Still, this is an affecting album, particularly the cooing For A Boy, and devastatingly direct Drunk On Your Breath in which she sings – ‘I’d rather be falling apart on the floor than sitting alone with that recurring thought of ‘damn, but I really liked that one”.
***
