Having already written about Chasing Pandora’s album fairly recently, there may not be too much that I can add now that the album has been officially released, although to be fair, my preview was based on just the one advance listening session. With the album now in hand, and the possibility of repeated listening at my beck and call, I’ve now listened to the album a few times in different surroundings.
A largely downbeat record laced with dark tones and melancholic twists, Mocking The Mockingbird paints a pretty intense emotional picture, primarily driven by Melissa’s personal dreams and demons as translated through her lyrics, and stitched together by Keith’s uncomplicated, plaintive guitar work. The string accompaniment and percussive elements are efficiently employed for rhythm buoyancy, boosted to apply added rhythm and power to new single Blue Leather Chairs, yet just as effectively played down to enhance opening track Bedroom’s emotive depths. This aspect of the record remains consistent whether you’re listening to it in the car or in the comfort of your home, although I have to say its effect is greater in a more relaxed setting!
And yet this same aspect takes on different dimensions when the music is performed live. It is something I noted – with differing conclusions – at Chasing Pandora’s performances at Teatru Unplugged and at the more recent Vodafone Music Jam. Clearly, plenty of practice has given Mel and Keith more confidence onstage, and this was all too evident during their recent “album launch” gigs in St James Cavalier’s “round room”. Despite feeling a bit poorly on the night I attended, Melissa gave a commendable performance, handling her voice quite well, give or take the odd strain towards the end.
Presenting a mixed set of covers (some predictable, some less so!) and original songs off the new album, the unplugged line-up – featuring Eric Wadge on bass, Cannibal on percussion, Izzy on keys and Philip on cello – gave a highly entertaining performance overall, although some songs worked better than others. Of the original songs performed on the night, opening number Divine, Bedroom and Bleed stood out far above the rest, with Noisy Spaces, I Know and Feel The Rain also hitting the mark and the upbeat Blue Leather Chairs picking up where the cover of REM’s Shiny Happy People slackened. The choice of covers thankfully included some interesting choices, of which Tori Amos’ Crucify, Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer and the Jose Gonzalez-meets-The Knife reinterpretation of Heartbeat were the most convincing, while the band’s customised version of Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus – now a signature Chasing Pandora live number – sounded every bit as effective and integral as the original. There’s always room for improvement, of course, such as a diverse choice of covers – well, a couple of them at least – but overall it was a pretty cohesive performance that conveyed both the essence of Chasing Pandora and the engaging element of their debut album. For more information, visit www.chasingpandora.com
CD COURTESY OF tickety-boo ltd.