Album Review – Life On Earth by Tiny Vipers

Life On Earth by Tiny Vipers

Tiny Vipers is the stage-name of Seattle singer-songwriter Jesy Fortino. Although I haven’t heard her previous albums, Life On Earth is apparently a move away from pop music into something rather more abstract. The first thing I noticed as the opening track kicked in was that she possessed an amazing voice. She doesn’t really go in for over-the-top emotional wailing but she has a voice that carries great power and, combined with her guitar technique, conveys the complexities of her lyrics very successfully.

Much like Teitur’s (see previous review) this album is demanding of attention and much would be lost from the experience by using it as background music. The tracks I felt most for initially were Eyes Like Ours and Dreamer and most of the tracks move well between being somewhat ethereal or stark. There were a couple of tracks that made my mind drift off somewhere else but most of them stand up well.

A good enough album and, when the mood is right, a positive experience. 7/10

Album Review – The Singer by Teitur

The Singer by Teitur

Teitur is a singer-songwriter from the bleak and windy land of fishermen, the Faroe Islands (roughly between Norway and Iceland). He is now based in London.

As I settled down and began to listen to the album, I was struck by how evocative the instrumentation was. There was a nakedness to it that was quite pronounced and the percussion used all served a purpose. Even more noticeable is how the strings of the double bass are used in such a way as to create an unsettling feeling; as if something sinister is just around the corner. For anyone who has watched any Ingmar Bergman movies this will likely resonate. I love Bergman’s creations and some of them instantly came to mind when I listened to this album.

Despite what I’ve said already, this is far from an esoteric concept album and is actually very accessible. If you enjoy a stripped-down approach to music where producers haven’t ‘produced’ things to within an inch of their lives, this album should appeal. It’s a collection that, if you don’t listen very closely, seems rather relaxing but a more deliberate listen will reveal disturbing stories and instrumentation of simple beauty.

The tracks I found most memorable are Legendary Afterparty, Catherine The Waitress and The Girl I Don’t Know but I had no compulsion to skip past any of the other tracks. This album may not be instantly a favourite but I do feel that, if you persevere with it, the experience will be very rewarding. An enthusiastic 7/10 from me.