Karen Haglof – One Hand Up
This project from Avant-guitarist Karen Haglof (turned Oncologist turns guitarist), you heard correctly, is quite a ball of wax. Ms. Haglof makes it sound pellucid.
She’s not alone in alternative employment. Famed guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (The Doobie Brothers/Steely Dan) worked as a defense consultant & advised the U.S. members of Congress on missile defense.
And Jeff’s not alone. Actress Hedy Lamarr in the early ‘40s co-invented a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes that used spread spectrum & frequency hopping technology to defeat a threat of radio jamming. It’s said the technology was never adopted but it has been used today in digital systems. Did Hedy play the guitar? No. She made movies & acted beautifully.
But retired Oncologist Karen Haglof has 14 manicured guitar playing fingers in latex on One Hand Up (Drops June 14/Independent/51:36) that she produced penetratingly with Mario Viele in Brooklyn, NY. This is her 4th & covers a wide range of themes. The music’s lively with seasoned playing but supported by reliable skillful musicians. Karen sings with spirit, with an upbeat slight 50s verve or 70s punk chisel & plays with enthusiastic clarity. Always with a mind-bending vibe (“D.H.Y.B.”).
The opener “One Hand Up,” has a crowd effect, cheesy but effective organ (like Joey Dee’s “Roly Poly”) & early 60s R&R honking saxes. It sounds freshly minted not oldie oriented. “24-Hour Prayer Q-Beat,” has a punky kick-ass performance & what may be a Farfisa squeezing notes out like a grandma wringing water from a washrag. The whole tune’s done with precision & it’s indulgent. Good pop-sensibility.
Karen has her Chrissie Hynde-Patti Smith shadings quite accessible. What’s special about these sugar-coated pieces is that there are no additives. You’d think it was all novelty with silly lyrics & B-52’s quirkiness like “Rock Lobster” or the Flying Lizards’ “Money.” But no. These tunes are fun & performed as a tasty side order.
Even a dour “Bus Driver” has its Deaf School with Bette Bright dripping generously from the arrangement. Karen doesn’t have the vocal aggressiveness & range of Bette (“All Queued Up”), but Karen does an equally admirable & consistently competent job.
There’s a jazzy tinsel sparkling in “Slinky 66” & a splash of potent progressive rock on “Day 34.”
Impressive production throughout. Karen’s got the Moxy brother & in two words – the album is a curiosity & it’s superb.
Highlights – “One Hand Up,” “24-Hour Prayer Q-Beat,” “Bus Driver,” “Slinky 66,” “Day 34,” “D.H.Y.B.,” “You’re Not Where I Am,” “B.Q.E,” & “Saddle Bronc Rider/Barrel Girl Dub.”
Musicians – Karen Haglof (guitars/vocals/loops), Mario Viele (guitars/vocals/loops), CP Roth (drums/percussion/bass/keys/synths) with Ka’Maria & Isaac Haglof (voices/title track), Rembert Block & Russ Alderson (bgv/title track), Mitch Easter (moog), Crispin Cioe & Paul Scher (saxes), Roddy Rodriguez (voice on D.H.Y.B.), Nadia Haglof (voice) & Jonathan Kane (drums).
Color photo & CD image courtesy of Jonathan Kane. CD @ https://karenhaglof.bandcamp.com/
