Camille Delean – Cold House Burning
Unlike many singer-songwriters today Camille Delean seems to channel a darker vision of Joni Mitchell through her haunting music & especially the intro guitar on the opening melancholic melodic track “Idle Fever, Out of Tune.” Her voice circles like a vulture in a blue musical sky. A contrast that’s somber, yet enchanting. It progresses with beauty & different from the present crop of today’s artists.
Camille Delean – Cold House Burning (Drops June 5 – New Habitat) features Camille (vocals), Michael Feuerstack (guitar/bass/vocals/percussion & synth), Jeremy Gara (drums/add’l piano), Mathieu Charbonneau (piano/synth), Philippe Charbonneau (vocals/synth), Joshua Zubot (violin) & Adam Kinner (sax).
Camille through her showcase maintains a stylistic atmosphere. On this LP she sculpts a characterization of intensity with the beauty of musicianship with little bombastic fervor. Though not a jazz artist tunes like “Sleep In,” run a finger across the rim of a jazz cocktail glass. There’s a smoky jazz chanteuse style with low sax notes & the tease of a piano. Yet it’s supported by a Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance)/Nico avant-garde noir shadow of delicacy that makes it special.
That’s not to say this is morbid. It isn’t. It’s a commendable endeavor. “Afraid of People,” is upbeat, Camille’s silky voice, delicious. Never diminishing into sugary romanticism & with the added male voice just under the surface, the ghostly trumpet sound – all wonderfully arranged & recorded. The tune builds slow & is quite attractive. It’s safe to say (my opinion) that Camille is an original. She does it in an unassuming manner. No fireworks, wild solos, or showboating. Just an adept creation of mood with a warm musical temperature.
“Medicine Morning,” is imaginative. Slow, with a fascinating prison boot beat. Camille’s voice is better appreciated here as she delivers distinguished vocals with a deep Lee Hazelwood type male voice flying under her radar. This CD deserves a lyric insert.
Where is the Americana? It’s in “Fault Line (Late July),” a clearly audible lo-fi Nancy Sinatra-Lee Hazelwood deep cut. The slight sax bellow, stinging drums – a short tune full of fuel.
“Birthday,” & “Flash Flood (Milieu Interieur),” are more sublime like PJ Harvey. Camille – musically — knows where every piece is on her board. At times, her voice is in a dreamy ethereal mood but never weak or lush.
It’s safe to assume if a musician were to stir a pot of folk music with a dash of jazz added Camille Delean would be that artist. The distinguished tracks are sophisticated & retain potency. With headphones, it’s probably a trip many listeners will take.
There is at times a Laura Nyro quality to the spare compositions. Nothing’s diluted. The tunes have weight but they’re not heavy. A well-realized goal.
The 10-track, 41-minute CD was produced by Camille with Michael Feuerstack & recorded in Montreal, Canada. Available at Bandcamp & her website: https://camilledelean.com/