Customer Reviews

Exile

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dizzying array of melody, mood, and harmonic atmosphere, This CD combines brilliant song-writing with world-class musicianship. A super rarity, an absolute gem. Basya Schechter pushes the envelope here and it pays off big time.

I actually like this CD better than their future efforts. The lyrics aren't too amazing, but the album succeeds in creating a lush, mystical sound. It might be less slick or professional, but I find it kind of catchy in a less pretentious, unusual way. I especially like "Change Your Mind," "Off and On," "Run" and "Scream." I think there's plenty of music out there in Hebrew, and Jewishly-themed music in English just captures my attention more. This album is definitely worth more than one listen. After a few go-arounds, I found I had several of the songs stuck in my head.

In many ways like their debut record, Basya Schecter's Pharaoh's Daughter's sophomore record, "Exile", has that feeling of home demo, except this time the band seems to have shed many of the folk leanings of their debut for a more pop (or maybe faux-electronica) meets Arab sound. Gone are the overt Jewish/Klezmer influences, so present on their "Daddy's Pockets" (and their later records).

This sonic change actually works pretty well-- Schecter's confident vocal and superb songwriting can carry the album well, but the track selection leads much to be desired, with no less than half a dozen midtempo numbers to open the album up, lending a blending feel of one cut ("Run") to another ("Man in my Head"), the notable standout being "Exile", which sounds like an electronica piece even though it lacks any of the typical electronica elements.

The second half of the record does significantly better, barring the odd spoken word "Paradise Hung" (which sounds like a good idea whose time hasn't quite arrived). "Statue" provides great swirling vocals interspersed with acoustic guitars, "Going Nowhere" picks up a bouncing energy and a seemingly endless array of oddball sounds and freak guitar skanks in the background, and even when it surrenders to midtempo ("Confession"), there's enough going on to maintain interest.

Like "Daddy's Pockets", "Exile" points the way for what's to come-- it's a bit unbalanced of a record and I think a bit less of a record than its predecessor. I rate it a bit low as a comparative measure to the superb records that follow. IF you've picked up an interest in the band, this one's worth checking out, otherwise start with "Out of the Reeds" or Schecter's superb solo record "Queen's Dominion".

Basia's voice is hypnotizing on this ambitious recording. A perfect rainy day album.