Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Kirsty MacColl - Tropical Brainstorm
We're currently enjoying something of an Indian summer; August's storms and torrential rain have been replaced by hot, dry and rather humid days. Well, when I say 'enjoying', I mean tolerating. The aircon in the office today wasn't even up to its usual inefficiency, and worse still, it smelt funny. Not good.
Still, the balmy weather makes it the perfect time to enjoy a few late summer sounds. Kirsty MacColl's final solo CD fits perfectly into this category. Hugely influenced by the sounds of Brazil, Mexico and Cuba, the balmy music, instrumentation and rhythms make it ideal. In fact, 'influenced' doesn't really do it justice; large portions of the album were recorded in Brazil with Brazillian musicians, so it's genuine South American product.
She's been through it all over the years, and that doesn't leave a person unscathed. The feeling on this album is definitely optimistic and empowering, but many of the tracks carry leering lyrics laying into the men in her life. As a listener, you're left in no doubt who's in charge. 'Us Amazonians' paves the way for a matriarchal society and 'Designer Life' dismisses the men who follow exactly that. But then there's the brilliance of 'England 2, Columbia 0' in which Kirsty likens her recently discarded character to the disappointed team.
A postdated review of this album cannot escape from the fact that, shortly after its recording, Kirsty was killed in a boating accident. You're left wondering what might have been. Eight years had elapsed since her previous solo release (the dark and bitter Titanic Days) and it seemed as if she'd just found her voice again. Try not to linger on that fact; instead, enjoy what's there for what it is.
Still, the balmy weather makes it the perfect time to enjoy a few late summer sounds. Kirsty MacColl's final solo CD fits perfectly into this category. Hugely influenced by the sounds of Brazil, Mexico and Cuba, the balmy music, instrumentation and rhythms make it ideal. In fact, 'influenced' doesn't really do it justice; large portions of the album were recorded in Brazil with Brazillian musicians, so it's genuine South American product.
She's been through it all over the years, and that doesn't leave a person unscathed. The feeling on this album is definitely optimistic and empowering, but many of the tracks carry leering lyrics laying into the men in her life. As a listener, you're left in no doubt who's in charge. 'Us Amazonians' paves the way for a matriarchal society and 'Designer Life' dismisses the men who follow exactly that. But then there's the brilliance of 'England 2, Columbia 0' in which Kirsty likens her recently discarded character to the disappointed team.
A postdated review of this album cannot escape from the fact that, shortly after its recording, Kirsty was killed in a boating accident. You're left wondering what might have been. Eight years had elapsed since her previous solo release (the dark and bitter Titanic Days) and it seemed as if she'd just found her voice again. Try not to linger on that fact; instead, enjoy what's there for what it is.
# posted by Sam : 20:24
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Amen to that! Corking stuff! Shame Kirsty is no longer with us, p'raps there may have been more but it is indeed best not to dwell on that rather to appreciate what is left behind. :)
Great choice Sam. A wonderful album with a great sense of humour. "In These Shoes" is probably my favourite track on the album, although "Here Comes That Man Again" has some cracking lyrics and it's the only song I've ever heard that makes use of the icq knock-knock sound...
Kirsty was brilliant. They still haven't pinned down the overprivileged bastard who killed her.
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