Customer Reviews

Lottery

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

 

 

I started listening to Denali a couple of years ago on the reccomendation of a friend, and was instantly blown away by the beauty and power of their debut CD. I wasn't totally into Maura's voice, but the music was so incredible, so simple and so hauntingly beautiful. I got a chance to see them right before they broke up. While at the show I got their second CD, and I could feel a change in direction. The riffs were more complicated, the piano was less of a element. The band breaks up, yadda yadda yadda, we have the Lottery EP which seems like such a natural progression from Instinct.

I bring up Denali (as most reviewers will) because one of the main drawing points of both bands is Ms. Davis, and as such comparisons are natural. However, as much as Ambulette is Denali, it is also very much its own band. This CD highlights the changes, but sometimes seems too scattered. "I've Got More" has an almost 80ish feel to it, almost bouncy musically. We then go into "Fall" which, and this is blasphemy, but the background music gives me the same kind of feel as Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. Middle-eastern type rythyms, I can't really put my finger on it, it's a wonderful song.

The next two songs would fit perfectly on a Denali CD, they are both very thoughtful songs, and with the layering of vocals (on "Seconds Until Midnight" especially), they really give me the same feel. The closing song, in my opinion, is the real highlight of this CD. I "acquired" a bootleg of one of their shows when they were still Bella Lea and was blown away by the beauty of "If You Go Away", and a lot of that is because I love the original version, or Nina Simone's interpretation of it at least. "Ne Me Quitte Pas" by Nina Simone almost brings me to tears everytime, so sad, so melancholy, and this band really conveys the same emotions, a little toned down, but still so powerful. Just listen to "If You Go Away", and if you like it, do yourself a favor and look up Nina Simone.

Wow, this review is longer than the CD, Ok so in conclusion, this is a good CD, not earth-shattering, but certainly shows a lot of promise, and I look forward to their full length.

I've followed Maura Davis from Denali to Bella Lea to Ambulette. She never disappoints. The songs are well crafted, emotional, dark, and moody. Maura's voice is incredible. This is a strong preview for what is sure to be a great full length debut. I listened to each song again, and again, and again, and again.

I discovered Denali just as they were disbanding, and though I checked them out because of the Keeley Davis connection, it was Keeley's sister, Maura, who led them. Now with Ambulette, Maura's doing a similar sort of thing: atmospheric indie rock with mysteries and a bedroom voice. Sometimes brooding, sometimes lighthearted, it's all anchored by Maura's delivery, which summons up the image of a slightly less caustic PJ Harvey.

"Lottery" is an EP of four originals and an evocative cover song at the end. Everything seems to be about rising and falling (hear her vocals on "When I See You"). At the outset, she sounds almost disinterested but by the end she's holding on for dear life. This is lay-on-the-floor-and-dream sort of music, so you may need a starters course in the Cure and Portishead to really get into it, but I imagine novices will warm up to it without too much difficulty. Now let's await a full-length.

Best cuts: "When I See You," "I've Got More," "Seconds Until Midnight," "If You Go Away"

The Lottery is by all means a sound EP - the songwriting is solid but the production is just overblown. Having been a big Denali fan and also a really big Bella Lea fan before they changed their name, I was let down. The earlier versions of these songs were so much more sincere, intimate and full of character. So, if you own the old Bella Lea demos, I'd give caution on buying this record. That being said, it's still pretty good.

No Ambulette review should go without mentioning Denali, lead singer Maura Davis' previous band. Clearly, this review is no exception. Fans of Denali, which include myself, were disappointed by their splitting up after two incredible albums a couple of years ago. Thankfully, Maura was not finished and decided to form Bella Lea, which is now of course Ambulette. Having Engine Down's lead vocalist Keeley Davis as a brother, inspiration, and former band member with Denali, it's no suprise that Maura is determined and steadfast in her quest for passionate music. With Ambulette she has not only taken her own unique vocal ability to new levels, but also found a few other fine musicians to share her passion with. Though Ambulette doesn't grow far from the same root as Denali, the difference is noticable and quite welcome.

Starting with two upbeat and extremely catchy tracks, we're greeted with Maura's incredible and unique vocals that she's become almost famous for. Though the actual music on these first couple of offerings isn't quite as dark as you would probably expect, the guitar work and overall feel is often times very ethereal. The third and best track on the album slows things down and begins with a soft piano melody, shortly giving way to Maura's gorgeous voice over light guitar picking. Here we see Maura giving the best vocal performance of her career, honestly suprising me in her ability to so easily shift her vocals from high and delicate to low and powerful, literally in the middle of a chorus and even a single word. The entire song is dark and very compelling, setting an incredible balance between itself, the two previous tracks, and the following more upbeat and catchiest song on the record.

Both suprising and refreshing, Maura comes off as very sexy and sensual in this track, using two of her many vocal abilities in the chorus by overlapping them as one. More than any song on the album, this part, when she sings the title of the track, sticks in my head for hours after I've listened. There's just something about the way this woman sings these simple words that stays with a person, though I have trouble trying to explain it. Moving on, the band ends the album with an elegant and nostalgic ballad on love of days passed and those that could follow. We hear Maura at what seems to be her most vulnerable, as the band accentuates the mood with their simple but very effective playing.

On that note, it should be mentioned that even though Maura is the clear centerpiece of this and any other band she has or ever will be a part of, the other musicians on this album do an admirable job creating soundscapes both gorgeous and catchy throughout. Set to release their debut full length early next year, I wait patiently and with much hope in regards to what I feel this band is capable of creating. If we're greeted with 45 minutes of music that matches the top notch material found on this brief offering, I'll have a hard time keeping the release out of my top 10. It goes without saying that if you're a fan of Denali you should give this band a listen. Past projects aside, however, I must also recommend that those of you simply interested in passionate and accomplished indie music should seek this out immediately.

--Matthew Dyess