Antje Duvekot - The Near Demise of The High Wire Dancer
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CD Details
Artist: Antje DuvekotEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2009-03-17
Music Label: Black Wolf Records
Soundtracks:
- Vertigo
- Ragdoll Princes And Junkyard Queens
- Long Way
- Lighthouse
- Dublin Boys
- The Bridge
- Scream
- Reasonland
- Coney Island
- Merry-Go-Round
- Augen, Ohren und Herz
Music reviews of The Near Demise of The High Wire Dancer
Music Review: With a little help from Richard Shindell and his Friends
Rating: 4 Stars
I've always felt that Antje Duvekot's previous album, 'Big Dream Boulevard', is one of good songs and vocals which are, at times, marred by tacky accompaniment and unsympathetic production. However, when listening to 'The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer', it's patently obvious to me, that those (perceived) weaknesses have now been addressed - AD has commandeered Richard Shindell (singer-songwriter extraordinaire) as producer, and his 'hands off' approach accentuates the folksier side of her music. He brings with him a veritable trove of Grade A musicians and vocalists, many of whom will be familiar to fans of contemporary North American folk music - these include John Putnam (pedal steel), Sara Milonovich (violin/viola/harmonies), Ben Wittman (drums/percussion), Viktor Krauss (acoustic bass on 'Coney Island'), Lucy Kaplansky (harmonies), John Gorka (harmonies) and, last but not least, Richard Shindell gets in on the act too (almost everything but the kitchen sink).
AD has a distinctive voice - one which combines a certain subtle edginess with a fragile vulnerability; her phrasing is not unlike that of Richard Shindell himself, and there is more than a trace of Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin too, but she could never be mistaken for any of these singers (not even Richard Shindell!) - she has a style all of her own. There are times when the low notes escape her but, when all is said and done, this minor distraction pales into insignificance when set against the many other positive qualities of her music. AD writes fine lyrics - replete with symbolism and imagery, bittersweet and introspective, often conveying themes of emotional isolation; I also think that, melodically, the album contains a stronger set of songs than does 'Big Dream Boulevard'.
With the exception of the final track, all songs are written/co-written by AD - a few comments about some of my favourites:
LONG WAY - Mid-tempo 'Shindell-esque' travelogue. AD's attractive and easy paced vocals, John Gorka's delicate harmonies and the light semi-acoustic instrumental accompaniment all make for a deliciously folksy concoction.
DUBLIN BOYS - A slowish rocker having a distinct Gaelic lilt and a chorus with a strong hook. The song starts with acoustic guitar, then gradually builds as percussion and then electric guitar (Duke Levine) and Hammond (Seth Glier) are introduced; also features piano and some pleasant harmonies.
SCREAM - A classy piece of mid-tempo pop-rock with rhythmic harmonies. Richard Shindell's one minute plus acoustic guitar solo (at the end of the song) ought not to be missed.
MERRY-GO-ROUND - Another mid-tempo rocker, features resonant acoustic guitar/electric bass, occasional electric guitar licks and close harmonies; also, overdubbed vocals sung at counterpoint to the main melody. Catchy chorus and outstanding vocals from AD.
I found 3 songs less compelling - 'Lighthouse', 'Coney Island' and 'Augen, Ohren und Herz' - but there are no bad songs on this album, and these could well be amongst you own personal favourites.
I bought this album about 4 months ago, and I still listen to several of the songs frequently - this bodes well for its longevity as a dust-free item in my CD collection. Strongly recommended if you like modern, singer-songwriter/folk music; also, if you're looking for contemporary folk-rock noir, then you've come to the right place; good music - in fact, GREAT music.
Description of The Near Demise of The High Wire Dancer
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