Title: Crossed Lines
Artist: Twila.Too
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 19th June 2009
Label: Serve & Destroy Records
Album Review
TWILA.TOO is a singer, songwriter from Belgium who has relocated to Cologne in 2001 and since has been involved into a lot of musical projects including collaborations with BOB HUMID, AIR LIQUIDE, or DECOMPOSED SUBSONIC and countless live performance which she always put a great importance on. With ‘Crossed Lines’, a term used to describe “the struggle of human communication by using the double meaning of a technical description.” She’s going to release her debut album on next week’s Friday.
As soon as the first intricate rhythms of the opener ‘Recycle’ hit the ears there can be no doubt anymore that there are persons behind the knobs knowing their stuff absolutely, however there’s no need to conclude the album’s going to be a mind-focussed matter at all. Regardless of these overlapping structures and sounds the tracks are nowhere near exhausting. It’s quite the contrary; in fact they’re maintaining a surprising sense of catchiness and intrigue in addition to that with the extremely haunting and pervasive vocals of TWILA.TOO herself. Besides these rhythmically complicated affairs the album offers a bunch of much straightened tunes. For Instance the second album track ‘Wild Dreams’ that seems related to the trip-hop but then again the feeling’s a bit different from the stuff I heard though the melancholy is clearly there. ‘On The Lips’ as regards genre drawers is easier to pigeonhole, pulling influences from minimalist 80s pop tunes and maintaining a chilly timbre throughout even though warm pads are layered over the construction occasionally.
For the album’s title track though the bag of electronic tricks is unwrapped again lifting off the track with distant mechanical warble, leading into disturbing frequency gadgetry fading from the spotlight to challenge but never overcharge the ears with precisely crafted rhythm strings. Sometimes the mood makes me think off slow jazz or soul pieces; just electronic just to flip over again a few spells later. ‘XXX’ feels like homage to entirely analogue sound synthesis. The sound pattern just appears warmer overall. The song goes without any rhythm but features most beautiful classical melodies.
In conclusion I can only recommend this album to listeners seeking the ambitious but not wanting the music to dwindle into complexity overkill and who appreciate a distinct and endearing voice.
Tracklist
01. Recycle - 5:15
02. Wild Dreams - 4:55
03. Those Eyes - 4:11
04. Desiring the World? - 4:35
05. On the Lips - 4:38
06. Crossed Lines - 5:03
07. Minus 22 - 4:24
08. So Sweet - 4:54
09. XXX - 3:23
10. Blue Hole - 4:24
Line-up
Twila Too
Website
http://www.twilatoo.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/twilatoo
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 8.5 / 10
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