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January 25 - Feb. 1, 2001

[Music Reviews]

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*** 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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