New Street Rec.
Magic Apron : Orphan Harmony (US,2007)****
Vocalist/guitarist David McClung worked previously under the name of Thesoulradyo, now with a changed name, to Magic Apron. The vocal cooperation with Joanna Bajandas now is more overall present, first as warm friendship-harmonies vocal duets then with a femine melancholy leading, while arrangements are done by David and Jo (guitars,..) with help from Jeffrey Lerner (Rhodes,..) mostly, with just one track of occasional percussion by Chad Larrimore, and tambourine by Johnny La Rocha.
Sometimes when a friendship comes so close it feels just like one egg twins or sharing similar visions and expressions, in a Siamese perspective. The title Orphan harmony refers to lonely people who only have each other and have such a beautiful relationship that this new format became like family, but now their ways are seperating, because Jo and Jeffrey are going to leave Atlanta. As a last time together, the trio took the time to make this beautiful album, as an ode to their friendship and to friendships and family in general.
“I miss the skin you have and the comfort we consumed. The iris of my eye knows no light apart from you. Shadows on my wall. You grace the face of sky and there are mirrors in my hands. Soon a change will come where this spirit can dance shadows on my wall.”writes David beautifully on “all the leaves are gold”.
The music goes from acoustic comfort and tender sadness, to group sung celebration. A few other tracks like “Jackknife Swan” have instrumental arrangements with dreamy guitars in a Cocteau Twins vein. More into this form of wishing for escapism, dreamy female vocals and distortion guitars form this style into a sad hypnotism on “Eleanor”. Especially when the female vocals lead more, the sadness grows bigger like shadow, creeping with it its wish for love and care.
