*** Christina Rosenvinge
FROZEN POOL
(Smells Like Records)
This is a major departure for the Madrid-born Rosenvinge, who rose to prominence
south of the border as one half of the WEA Latin America pop duo Alex y Christina
before hooking up with Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley’s Smells Like label to
record this, her US solo debut. Backed with subtle restraint by Shelley (on drums),
Two Dollar Guitar guitarist Tim Foljahn, and Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo
(who lends his voice, guitar, and keyboard skills to the project), Rosenvinge
comes on like an exotic indie-rock chanteuse (think Mary Timony on a moody
European sojourn) on Frozen Pool, an album that bears few overt traces
of her more polished pop past. In fact, if there’s a bone to pick with
Frozen Pool, it’s that Rosenvinge may be trying a little too hard to
play down her vocal strengths, reining in her pipes throughout when a few
flashes of power here and there might have provided some nice contrast to the
mostly somber proceedings without compromising the low-key feel. Still,
Frozen Pool, with its spare, candle-lit arrangements, shadowy melodies,
and smoky ambiance, does distinguish itself by gently alluding to
Rosenvinge’s European roots — at times it brings to mind Nico fronting the
Velvet Underground in “I’ll Be Your Mirror,” or, when Ranaldo duets with
Rosenvinge, Serge and Charlotte Gainsbourg singing “Lemon Incest.”
— Matt Ashare
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