First conceived, and then, performed in 2009; later recorded in 2010 for a digital only release; the Dirty Projectors and Bjork‘s collaborative pet project ‘Mt.Wittenberg Orca’ finally receives a physical release on October 24th.
The oceanic swansong suite originally began as a favour to Stereogum.com‘s Brandon Stosuy, who asked both artists, separetly, if they’d perform at his bookstore location benifit gig, in N.Y, for some worthy enviromental causes. Both the Projectors and Iceland’s first lady of uncovention, decided to compose something fresh; inspired by the Projectors Amber Coffman’s delighted sighting of a whale family near the Mt.Wittenberg, San Francisco, coast. After the intial unamplified performance, a whole chorale and extended accompaniment of concatenate musical acts were added; centered around the elegiac, and sweetly lamented relationship between a, progressively, sympathetic observer from the shore, and our family unit of whales.
Bjork pines the plight of the mother whale, and the Projectors camarilla of sirens, Coffman, Haley Dekle and Angel Deradoorian, play her children, whilst founder/frontman, David Longstreth represents the human’s voice, in this tale of shared ecological affinity. An exercise in vocal dexterity, both parties offer a travail of touching swoons, mooning syllable stretches, and playful childlike glee that sounds ,in equal parts, like a cross between Gilbert and Sullivan and the Beach Boys. Bjork remains reasonably restrained and angelic throughout: holding back on the pliable, and, capricious wails until the final song ‘All We Are’ reaches a particular agonising moment of despair; or when the tone takes a tragic turn on ‘Sharing Orb’ – “Come into my home/murder my family/and leave me alone”. Production is kept to a minimum with a deftly poised ensemble of evocative bowed, plucked and strung string instrumentation; punctuated by Afro-delta blues guitar, and perfectly enchanting, yet soulfully morose, tender lyrics.
‘Mt.Wittenberg Orca’ is a National Geographic society paean, pulling at the apathetic heart-strings; yet more then likely preaching to the converted. Still it’s an effective conceptual piece of moving rhetoric that plays to Bjork and The Dirty Pojectors strengths and nuances; suffused with touching swells and beautiful enveloping melodies. Fans of both artists will be more then catered for.
Due: 24/10/2011
[Rating:3.5]
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