DevotchKa, a four piece Gypsy-rock band from Denver, Colorado comes back from after the critical success of 2006 Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack and EP Curse You Little Heart, with this years' full-length follow up, A Mad & Faithful Telling, on Anti records. Devotchka has always been known for their unique selection of instrumentation and song style, once again show of their talents.
On a whole the album plays like a child's bedtime story. Slight changes in chords and instruments signify the turning of a page or the start of a new chapter.
On the opening track "Basso Profoundo" traditional rock and roll is tossed out the window for the less conventional sounds of the gypsy. Using shakers and other miscellaneous percussion instead of your standard drum kit. And along with an upbeat accordion, fiddle, and a ghostly vocal chorus, the tempo of the album seems to be set...until 3:03 when the song essentially drops to a singular vocal/fiddle line back into full swing without even losing the listener or souring the mood. The 3rd track "The Clockwise Witness", another gem amongst gems on the album has a dainty music box intro with some staccato verses and a moving orchestral chorus while the lyrics harbor on a lover catching his/her significant other cheating and the conundrum/regret of forgiving them. The final track I'm going to mention in this long over due review is "Transliterator". Another track I find myself going back to over and over again. Its the most obvious presentation of a straight forward rock song, complete with distorted guitars and barely decipherable indie rock vocals.
I'm still on the fence as to whether or not "A Mad & Faithful Telling" is a furthering of DeVotchka's musical prows or if they're happy doing what they've been doing...creating a unique blend of genres from across the globe and bringing it to our ears.
Check in with one of my favorite places to buy music (insound.com) and order A Mad & Faithful Telling today. And while you're at it see them live at a town near you.
| 9:30 Club | Washington DC, Washington DC | ||
| The Fillmore/TLA | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ||
| Paradise | Boston, Massachusetts | ||
| Late Night with Conan O’Brien | New York, New York | ||
| Terminal 5 | New York, New York | ||
| Diesel Club Lounge | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | ||
| Southgate House | Newport, Kentucky | ||
| The Pageant | St. Louis, Missouri | ||
| Slowdown | Omaha, Nebraska | ||
| Alagarve Festival | Faro | ||
| Debaser Slussen | Stockholm | ||
| Peace and Love Festival | Borlange | ||
| John Dee | Oslo | ||
| Knaack Club | Berlin | ||
| Heineken Opener Festival | Gdynia | ||
| Solidays Festival | Paris | ||
| Werchter Festival | Werchter | ||
| Metropolis Festival | Rotterdam | ||
| Abart Music Club | Zurich | ||
| Les Ardentes | Liege | ||
| Cactus Festival | Brugge | ||
| Valkhof Affaire Festival | Nijmegen, Holland | ||
| Tivoli | Utrecht, Holland | ||
| Afisha Picnic | Moscow | ||
| Lollapalooza | Chicago, Illinois | ||
| Red Rocks Amphitheater | Morrison, Colorado |
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