Blonde Redhead then. A very rare band indeed. They seem to be a band
who've got better with age. Throughout the various phases they've gone
through, they've consistently produced wonderful sounding records to
make them one of the best 'guitar' bands out there. From the earlier
more rawkous records to the more mellow sounds of Misery Is A
Butterfly. In all honesty I don't think Blonde Redhead have got it in
them to make a bad record. They're just one of these bands who've got
'it'. I was so excited about their new album '23' I practically wet
myself. It's good to know I still get excited about music after all
these years of being involved in the horrible thing that is the music
industry (it bleeds you dry and throws your filthy guilty corpse away
ready for the next victim... it has no mercy and even little us are a
part of its vicious cogs). Hey this isn't a tirade against the music
industry..... maybe another time! Anyway I have to say the 1st time I
heard this album I was a little disappointed but then I remembered that
Misery Is A Butterfly took a while to grow on me. I couldn't knock it
too soon. So I took it home and listened to it it 3 times while someone
came to fix a database (my life is really that interesting...) and I've
come to the conclusion that it's another stormer. It seems a bit more
mellow and possibly a bit more trad than their previous albums but
after a few listens it starts to make more sense. The sense of
melancholy, joy, and genuine emotion you can hear in the music coupled
with Blonde Redheads capacity of writing fantastic tunes is a rare
treat and a complete feast for your chubby ears.
Musically it's not a million miles away from Misery Is A Butterfly and
if I was lazy I'd say it's part 2. Well I am lazy so I will say it's
part 2....so there. Another great record from another great band. Check
out their back catalogue if you haven't.... notably, Fake Can Be Just
As Good, Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons (especially that one!) and
the 2 albums on 4AD Misery and 23. All good shit mamma.- Phil
Love this record? Hate it? Tell us.
What their label says...
Blonde Redhead’s ‘Misery Is A Butterfly’, although conceived and recorded during a time of trauma, the album was a confident, thrilling and delicately-nuanced sweep of sound which enraptured the already-converted and won the band a whole new legion of fans. 2007 sees Blonde Redhead return with something even more spellbinding in ‘23’. As rich and densely-layered as the last album, but the overall mood of wistfulness, melancholy and regret has been replaced by one of mystical wonder and renewed energy. The opening, and title track is an hypnotic and rapturous hymn to the magic of change which sets the tone for the whole album. Ballads like ‘The Dress’ and ‘Silently’ are as emotionally resonant as anything the band have recorded, while uptempo moments like ‘Spring And By Summer Fall’ and ‘SW’ will most certainly take their place alongside long-time favourites ‘Melody Of Certain Three’ and ‘In Particular’ as highlights of the band’s live set. ‘23’ was recorded and produced by Blonde Redhead in New York City during the second half of 2006. The engineer throughout was Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV On The Radio), while sharing mixing duties were Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, Killers, Nine Inch Nails) and Rich Costey (Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Bloc Party).
