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DVDfever.co.uk – Exene Cervenka: Somewhere Gone CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Bloodshot Records
- Released: Out now
- Rating: 8/10
Punk rockers, Xhave only achieved moderate limited mainstream success since forming in Los Angeles in 1977.The four-piece are still active apparently. Shes also dabbled on albums by The Knitters and The Original Sinners and Auntie Christ.
Now for the first time since 1991, 54 year-old Exene Cervenka (born Christine Cervenkova) breaks free to show her other side with a delicious solo album. She should do it more often.
Switching to a totally new code, country folk-rock, Cervenka unveils her fabulous songwriting skills. It feels just like one of her songs suggests The Sound Of Coming Down away from the rocknroll din shes usually involved with. Gone is the crash -bang din for more sophisticated vignettes about usual matters pertaining to regret, loss, humour and the mother of all things passion!Many songs clock-in under the 2 minute mark, but not a second is wasted.
Opener Trojan Horse is such a song – a lilting country-infused delight combining acoustic strums and subliminal electric flourishes, though the main feature is her gorgeous voice.What follows On The Surface Of The Sun – is probably the best track on Somewhere Gone. A laidback mood propelled by the most sublime bass-lines this year, with little effort it ties this superb ballad together like glue. Another feature is the triple string work (violin / viola / cello) by the late Amy Farris.
Its Farris work that highlights again on the semi-thrusting title track, adding a menacing and melancholic texture.Bouncy Where Do We Go From Here straddles both country and folk without revealing the join, which would make a strong single for UK radio. Sharp Why Is It So brings backing vocalist Cindy Wasserman a chance to shine, but more like a duet than back-up. She does the same dazzling exhibitionism on stripped back ballad Insane Thing, playing the perfect foil to Cervenka.
Good ol country jumps out and slaps you across the face on the best album track the honey drenched (only non-original) The Willow Tree, again massively supported by Farris deft fiddle outing, whereas Walk Me Across The Night is an out-and-out honky -tonk boogie bristling with ivory tinklings.Things even out over the next four songs on a more subdued plane, with Farris providing an essential role on Melancholic ballads Honest Mistake (Celtic-like violin) and gypsy tinged Pinpoints.
The verdict Gorgeous.
Weblink:exenecervenka.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Trojan Horse
2. Surface Of The Sun
3. Somewhere Gone
4. Where Do We Go From Here
5. Why Is It So
6. Insane Thing
7. The Willow Tree
8. Let Go And Be Sweet
9. Walk Me Across The Night
10. Sound Of Coming Down
11. Fevered Paper
12. Fine Familiar
13. Honest Mistake
14. Pinpoints
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.