Released at the end of June, Blonde Redhead’s new album, The Shadow of the Guest, reinterprets tracks from the triumphant Sit Down for Dinner (2023) and Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons (2000). Featuring the Brooklyn Youth Chorus on several tracks and ASMR (autonomic sensory response!) on others, the trio continues to demonstrate its versatility by presenting modified versions, originally produced to accompany a fashion show.
The first four tracks feature the Brooklyn Youth Orchestra. We take off lightly and brightly with a simple, flute-filled version of Rest of Her Life, where singer Kazu Makino and the young musicians respond to and accompany each other, immediately setting the tone for this beautiful collaboration, which ends with angelic choirs. Next comes Before, with its spectral guitar melody that initially positions the choir as an arrangement, creating truly interesting effects and variations, such as canons, until the chorus takes over, filling the entire space with its swirling layers. Via Savona then arrives like a wave created by the slowly orchestrated choirs with acoustic guitar and piano, creating a truly aquatic and dreamlike version where the choir brings to life the universe in which Makino finds himself, ending as delicately as it began. Next comes the incredible version of For a Certain Coda (the first) simply called Coda, which, with the voices of the young people, takes on a different and grandiose flight.
Next up is an 11-minute version of Kiss Her Before The Snow Melts, which marks the turning point of the album as it moves into the second half, where the reinterpretations are more inspired by ASMR and Makino’s sound research, adding yet another layer of inventiveness. Good Morning Sunshine then begins in a Zen garden soundscape where flute arrangements and birdsong mingle with ethereal vocals. Good Night Til Tomorrow is a nocturnal progression from the previous track, with more spatial textures, as if Kazu’s voice were coming to us via satellite transmission. We are left with a mariachi reinterpretation of For a Certain Coda (the second) entitled Oda a Coda for the occasion, warmly orchestrated with violins, trumpets, and classical guitar for a magnificent farewell.
This is a beautiful album for fans and even for newcomers who may be discovering Blonde Redhead late in the game through choral singing and ASMR.
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