Customer Reviews

Binet-Simon Test (Reis)

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This second full-length release from Miranda July is equally brilliant as her earlier material, and just as inspired. Musically, however, I feel that it truly surpasses both "Ten Million Hours A Mile" and "Margie Ruskie Stops Time" (even being a big fan of The Need).

The musical accompaniment on "The Binet-Simon Test" not only seems more fitting to the moods of the spoken pieces, but is also integrated into the stories intrinisically. This time around, the music does not simply fill in around her narrations, but becomes a necessary part of them. Not to say that there weren't moments on the prior albums where this happened, but I have the sense that she is becoming more involved personally with the selection and use of sounds.

Miranda July is not a musician or a songwriter, but a film maker and actress. Her albums are akin to a soundtrack, with dialogue included, to a strange and disturbing avante garde art film. Each track is a mini-drama, sometimes with reoccuring themes from piece to piece, but not always.

On "The Binet-Simon Test," the pervading theme is one of persecution. Someone in the story is being questioned by either an authority figure, or someone stronger than themselves. In "Medical Wonder," an unwitting medical assistant is being interrogated for their involvement in a scandalous experiment that she should not remember; in "Lena Beamish," a young girl is questioned as to the validity of the special "trick" performed by her brother, their robot and herself; in "I Can-Japan," a voiceless invalid is being tormented by a person who may or may not have been placed in charge of their care; in "WSNO" a call-in listener is being questioned by the host of a radio show meant to share it's listeners darkest secrets; and in "The Co-Star," a woman is made to listen to her insanely jealous boyfriend's tirade while at the same time receiving secret messagees from an alien source meant to help her escape from his wrath.

Miranda July provides all of the voices for her characters, and in a most convincing manner. She is a fascinating character simply as herself, but even more so through the filter of all of these amazing personalities she gathers around her like the ghosts of Sibyl's past.

I highly reccommend this album to anyone with imagination and an open mind for new art forms.

In many ways, Miranda July is akin to composer/performer Robert Ashley in that she obsessively mixes opposing character narratives in a musical way. However, Miranda July's characterizations are always more direct, convincing, meaningful, and even more successful. All of her recordings demand close attention. While the Binet-Simon Test is the best of her audio recordings, live performance is where she truly excels.