KEY POINTS:
DEVOTCHKA
A Mad & Faithful Telling
(Anti-/Shock)
Herald Rating: * * *
Verdict: Mad gypsy music, with added sousaphone, makes dizzying listening
Going by its Russian name and by the gypsy music jaunt of first track Basso Profundo, you might think DeVotchKa are coming straight out of Russia bound for the nearest Womad festival. Adding to the worldly charm is the fact they have a sousaphone player (that's a wearable tuba), who also plays upright double bass, in their ranks.
But once The Clockwise Witness kicks in, making subtle use of the sousaphone's oozing oompahs, the Denver quartet hit their stride and gallivant off into the distance with grand pop music pomp like Arcade Fire.
And on romantic serenade Along the Way and the accordian anthem Undone they have the oldeworld charm of fellow gypsy folk act Beirut.
The band, lead by Nick Urata, started out in the late 90s as a backing band for burlesque shows and A Mad & Faithful Telling is their sixth album.
However, there are annoying moments, like on Transliterator when Urata tries rocking out with his vocals and comes off sounding like the lead in a rock'n'roll school musical. Though you can't fault his swooning sing-a-long on Along the Way (think Thom Yorke if he was a gypsy) and his rowdy romp on Head Honcho.
But songs like New World and Comrade Z get a little too dramatic and high-falutin to the point of dizzying.
While it's not as accomplished as Beirut's Flying Club Cup from last year DeVotchKa has an overall more uplifting and raucous intent in mind.
