psychedelic Folk review page 16

Attack Nine Rec. Woman & Children (F,US,CAN,2002)***'

The breathy dreamy meandering female vocals by June Serwa are really presenting the core effect of the music, meandering with echoing percussion and bass, amplified and acoustic guitar mostly, a bit of cello and doremifasolasido piano, backing vocals by the same singer, and some ambient keyboard textures. This almost is like a whispering air massage, and an inner ear relaxation and meditation. It is all so incredibly dreamy, even when songs are present. On the ninth track, when she’s singing with a lower voice, that track is reminiscent of Nico, in a bed of ambient textures, and acoustic guitar.

Audio "track"

Homepage : http://www.artdirection.com.au/images/wandc/news.html

Review with audio tracks : http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=11003

Review & official download : http://www.wovenwheatwhispers.co.uk/...

Info on later released boxset : http://www.hallso.co.uk/womenandchildren.html

Review of later box set : http://www.artdirection.com.au/images/wandc/review-20060113-dusted.html

Info : http://www.darla.com/catalog/desc.asp?id=6903

New release on http://209.200.80.36/shop/

Narnack Rec. Woman & Children : Paralyzed Dance, Tonight (F,US,CAN,2006)***'

Hearing their new release I cannot say this sound like exactly the same band. They are now much more into songs. The first few tracks have dreamy pop abilities, with a post pre-gothic feeling present. Most other tracks are more naked and pure. There it is especially nice to hear how they went into darker and sadder territory, especially most songs with the female vocalist, Cheryl June, (except for "Mary Blues",.. by Kevin Lasting), which is most captivating being accompanied with not much more than acoustic guitar, which is most often. (This never is done too complicated, but still it gets an almost Rennaissance feeling with the guitar on "Feed a Fire"). But I can also appreciate the few more psychfolk sweet-sad-happy inspirations, later on the album, some with some additional playful circular-rhythmic piano and toypiano (besides some amplified guitars,...).

-The band has recently toured with Cat Power and My Bloody Valentine's Colm O'Coisoig, and Hope Sandoval.-

Label page : http://209.200.80.36/

Homepage with audio : http://www.myspace.com/wearewomenandchildren

Review with 3 audio tracks : http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=24290

Other reviews :(bottom) http://music-versity.blogspot.com/2006/11/new-music-josef-k-swan-lake-white-magic.html

& http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/women-children/paralyzed-dance-tonight.htm

& http://www.junkmedia.org/index.php?i=1895

Gifted Children Rec. Woman & Children -12"- (F/US/CAN,2007)***°

“Flying Fortresses” very much dig out these psychedelic impulses, while the dreamy female vocals provide the right contrasts. “The Circumsized Unicorn” is more improvised, like a controlled outdoor ritual, experimental with multiple voices, a bit more controlled than entirely going for the psychedelic, but thoroughly amusing themselves while playing and singing weird. The second side is more song-based, and shows the band that I recognised, with its own development with keyboards, watery bubbled-echoing piano, dual female vocals and a certain poppy pleasantness. A convincing mini-album with a professional attractive full sound.

Label info : http://www.giftedchildrenrecords.com/womenandchildren/index.html

Homepage : http://www.artdirection.com.au/images/wandc/default.html

Audio : "Black Day" & http://www.myspace.com/wearewomenandchildren

& http://www.myspace.com/giftedchildrenrecords