By IrinaXara
The first time I saw Unwoman, a.k.a. cellist Erica Mulkey, we were both performing in an event in Santa Cruz by the name of Lumen Obscura. I was delighted to see local bellydancer Laura Elisabeth accompanying her onstage with a live dance set. Having been recommended her music by a friend the previous week, I was already the proud owner of the albums Blossoms and Casualties. On August 31st of this year, Unwoman graced the music scene with a new-to-us creative foray, the ambitiously-titled album Uncovered, Vol. 1.
One unique trait of this project is that all of the production funds were raised through a Kickstarter.com campaign. The public was also able to get a sampling of Unwoman’s relationship with cover music beforehand from her Demo Covers album, an EP-sized collection of rarity recordings spanning back to the 1990s, in addition to the cover songs that pepper her typical public performances. Mulkey herself says of the song choices: “Most of [them] I made a special attachment to in my childhood or adolescence.” Many fans in their late twenties and thirties will assuredly be able to relate to these connections.
Unwoman has selected from upbeat favorites of the New Wave catalog to contemplative early 1990s alternative music, with a hearty ice cream scoop of 1980s Goth rock. Mulkey says of her choice to cover Wham! 80s-cheese classic “Careless Whisper” that “This is a totally serious take on an undeniably corny original.” Other songs on the album, such as Real Life’s “Send Me An Angel,” were covered by request from fans and friends. Uncovered, Vol. 1’s “Billie Jean” cover was nudged on by Michael Jackson’s death in 2009. Tears for Fears’ coming-of-age struggle, “Shout,” motivated Unwoman with the thought: “Have you ever wanted to scream, you just felt so powerless?” Mulkey’s later-in-life appreciation of Nick Cave’s growling Goth Blues inspired her to cover “Do You Love Me?” Mulkey’s love of the movie “L.A. Story” provided the impetus for her version of Enya’s “Exile.” For those curious about motives and memories, all of these anecdotes are available in PDF format with download of the digital album on Unwoman’s Bandcamp site: http://unwoman.bandcamp.com/. For those who aren’t able to purchase the physical album, this PDF file provides more intimate storytelling behind these song choices, especially for younger listeners desiring to fill in the cultural blanks.
Mulkey has done her best to make Uncovered, Vol. 1 a multidimensional experience for her fans. She provides not only a digitally downloadable version of the album for purchase on her site but also the option to purchase a physical album. One can also peruse the homepage of her website for a playlist of all the original songs by the original artists. This allows younger fans who might not have heard some of the originals to listen for reference. In a clever “cover of a cover” pun, the album cover design of Uncovered, Vol.1 is a painting by Suzanne Forbes inspired by the artwork on Nick Cave’s 1994 album Let Love In.
My personal favorites on the album became clear right away. I had already owned Demo Covers, and was happy to hear several of the songs from that receive a crisp refinishing due to Kickstarter funding. “Ceremony” is subtly mournful, with thoughts of Ian Curtis’s demise lingering. The “Careless Whisper” cover is serious but retains a bright touch and some Goth-club danceable backbeat. Unwoman’s vocal distortions and beats on “Open Your Heart” present a clever nod to 80s synths and keep the danceable feeling going. The cover of Tori Amos’s “Crucify” is an emotional homage worthy of compare with the original, complete with nods to Tori’s conservatory-educated grace notes and breakaway vocal quirks. “Shout” is sincere and unabashedly dark. Mulkey’s “Send Me an Angel” cover retains the same synth concepts that made the original so appealing. “Some Kind of Stranger” translates Sisters of Mercy into a marriage of piano and cello, removing some of the Goth rock muddiness and replacing it with a more instrumentally-based intimacy that enables Unwoman to claim the song as her own. For those who choose to listen to the album in track order, Unwoman has placed the slower track selections at the end of the album, directing the feeling of the songs more internally over the course of Uncovered, Vol. 1.
In all, these are not just regurgitations, but unique re-interpretations of 80s and 90s classics that have shaped many in the alternative scene of all ages. Those with strong memories of the originals will find their favorites respectfully re-imagined with a dark ambiance that is at once vulnerable and eerily mechanized. A satisfying nod to the past, leaving room for future volumes.
Unwoman looks forward to the 21+ release party honoring Uncovered, Vol. 1 taking place at the Uptown in Oakland, CA on Thursday, September 29th, 2011.
http://www.unwoman.com/
http://unwoman.bandcamp.com/.
IrinaXara is a writer and bellydancer from Southern California. www.irinaxaradance.com
No comments:
Post a Comment