My New Favorite Band(s)

After feeling that women were somewhat underrepresented in my music collection, my mistress Fate, in her wisdom, has placed a veritable bevy of lady-singers into my paint-stained hands! Aside from Beth Gibbons on Portishead's newest, I've been introduced to Ruth Skipper and Hannah Miller, also monikiered as "Chesty LaRue" and "Cruella de Mill".

Both of these ladies take up vox in two separate bands, Modernaire and The Moulettes. While both very good, both bands run the same vein through two different genres of music; Moderanire are the rather arty electro outfit (along with a chap named "Oscar Wildestyle"), and The Moulettes are all fiddles and oboes, and are leaning towards more traditional folk music.

Moulettes and Modernaire both are very Gothic, in the old English sense of the word. Charlotte Bronte, but with a more viciously playful side, and a not-so-subtle suggestion of murderous intent. "Bloodshed in the Woodshed" for Modernaire lists a number of gruesome ways to get dead in zombie-chant, and the chorus is delivered with yearning laced with scorn. Hell hath no fury, and all that. Other tracks showcase the duo's dueling harmonies, my favorite being the aggressively affectionate "Distraction".

The Moulettes have many of these themes, but they're tamed or sedated entirely in lieu of more subtle tales of depravity, the the oft-scorned ladies label themselves. "Cannibal Song" flourishes with snatches of violins and oboes, and with lyrical content of jealously and castration, this depravity takes on a Penny-Dreadful aspect of vicissitude.

Devil of Mine, however, is quite simply the best song I have had the pleasure of hearing in a good long time. It is one of those songs that conjures all manner of images, of candlelit stonework and dirty ballgowns. The two girl's vocal ability has an awful lot to account for, but this song really cements the violin as the Devil's instrument in my ears. Fucking wonderful, it is.

Modernaire - Myspace, album available for a fiver

The Moulettes - Myspace page, if someone can enlighten me as to where to get their music, I would be very grateful indeed.

S/Cooke