Cocorosie: Grey Oceans

CocoRosie has never ceased to push the limits of what a delicate, little female voice can make as far as a mix of feelings go. Grey Oceans is absolutely no exception to this, if not, is the best example of it. The eeriness of their tracks can be off-putting to a first-time listener, and seems boring, but upon further time spent, one will usually figure out that it’s actually a very friendly sound, and doesn’t get stale very quickly or with ease. Also, their choice of lyrical subject can often draw a distinction from the sounds that are actually coming out of the speakers, which is one of their best qualities. A good example of this is “By Your Side” from their La Maison de mon Reve record, which sounds too delicate and quirky to be an anthem of domestic lifestyle, but is nonetheless.

Grey Oceans starts off solemn and quiet, maybe even a bit tiresome, but what’s lost in “Trinity’s Crying” is made up for throughout the whole album, or perhaps it’s better to say, the first track is only there to warm up the ears. “Smokey Taboo” cuts in with jungle-esque hits, very reminiscent of several tracks from La Maison de mon Reve, but in a new, and more refreshing way. Bianca Casady tears through this track with authoritative rhymes and melodies, which are about as abrasive as CocoRosie has ever been. Dynamic track qualities can also be found in “Hopscotch,” which features Sierra Casady’s infamous humming, buzzing, whining solos that’s become a CocoRosie staple, but then surprises it’s listener with a jumpy piano chorus. Both “Hopscotch” and “Smokey Taboo” manifest age-old CocoRosie sounds with bracing, more buoyant individuality than seen before in Noah’s Ark or La Maison de mon Reve.

The closing track “Here I come,” ends the record, for lack of a better word, quite nicely. To compliment use of a shoegazey voice to set a haughty rhythm, “Here I come” is sounded out and balanced nicely by Sierra Casady’s gentle whims and vocal quirks, and then rounds out with a calm piano gallop at the end. Bianca and Sierry Casady have done with Grey Oceans what they’ve always done, a very playful yet eerie sound. Another great album the Casady sisters have put out, and their music has remained what should be a doctored treatment for insomnia. No sounds will relax and excite so eloquently as these. Their sound as always, but thoroughly with Grey Oceans, will pay off tremendously.