Charming Disaster – The Double
This band is folk music rooted, according to their press release, in a Gothic form inspired by the macabre humor of Edward Gorey & Tim Burton. The duo of Ellia Bisker (vocals/organ/piano/ ukulele/glockenspiel/percussion) & Jeff Morris (vocals/guitar/organ/piano/percussion) cruises through murder ballads in the Americana tradition with a cabaret flair.
Songs emanate from death tales, crime, myth, magic, folklore, Victorian horror, science & the occult. They should add Gahan Wilson, Aleister Crowley & the photography of Weegee to their song inspirational list to gain an even wider scope. But until then, this collection features enough music to be a generous introduction to their repertoire to the uninitiated.
Produced by Charming Disaster & Don Godwin (bass/drums/horns/ percussion), the 10 pieces that make up their 7th LP, The Double (Drops May 16/Independent/42:27), come from Brooklyn, New York.
The band formed in 2012 explores alternate realities but maintains a deviant folky edge. Not quite the countrified version of Michael Gira’s The Swans (“Burning World”) or the Dead Can Dance era of “American Dreaming” with Brendan Perry & Lisa Gerrard. But the duo sings with a vibrant mix of fortified folksiness. “Black Locust” plods along, but the blaring horns wake everyone up as their vocal technique wields an appealing sound. This kind of music needs a lyric sheet, though. I have no clue what they’re singing about.
With “New Moon,” the duo is almost as clever as the ’60s duo Lyme & Cybelle (really Warren Zevon & Voilet Santangelo) with their minor hit single & marvelous vocalizing on the percussive “Follow Me.” Charming Disaster’s tune also has a persistent percussive attraction & good vocal interplay.
Stranger still is “Trick of the Light” (inspired by Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”) a little darker & closer to a B-52s vocal projection (“Rock Lobster”) but while Charming Disaster’s vocals bit the hook they don’t have the flavor of the quirky bait of the B-52’s. It’s an interesting piece though especially when they slow it down & then Gothically pick up the beat again.
“Time Machine” has a nice piano run that kicks things along melodically & these lyrics are a little easier to understand. The fantasy is laid on thick, but it has good production. Excellent vocalizing between the duo is evident on “Beautiful Night.”
“Vitriol” is a little too showbiz kitschy but it’s catchy the way Deaf School was (“What a Way To End It All” & “All Queued Up”). Whereas “Haunted Lighthouse” is Brecht-Weil in quality with its demonic accordion chords & “Tom Waits” arrangement. Superb.
The finale is “Grim Things” which is quite entertaining. Ellia Bisker & Jeff Morris sing with skill.
Highlights – “Black Locust,” “New Moon,” “Trick of the Light,” “Time Machine,” “Beautiful Night,” “Haunted Lighthouse,” “Gang of Two,” & “Grim Things.”
Musicians –Peter Bufano (piano/accordion), Mike Dobson (percussion), Kate Wakefield (cello/string arrangements) & Stefan Zeniuk (reeds).
The CD photo & color image courtesy of Shervin Lainez. CD @ https://www.charmingdisaster.com/ & https://charmingdisaster.bandcamp.com/album/the-double
