CAGES

"Folding Space"

Cold Spring - 2009

CD

Unusual release for Cold Spring, that shows the will to expand its sound catalogue towards more accessible territories. Cages are an American duo that creates intimistic and melancholic moods, with David Bailey's instruments supporting Nola Ranallo's vocals. If the music is rather articulated, covering a wide range of sounds, from skeletal acoustic ballads to electronic ambient, down to electric post rock and Gregorian chants backgrounds conjuring sacral atmospheres, the weak point is unfortunately the voice itself. Ranallo chases Björk along high-pitched tunes and screams, which however go off the lines quite soon, scratching and slapping the soul instead of caressing it. Only in the oneiric "Dream Dip Sailor" and few other passages the formula seems to work, as for the rest, the listener's nerves soon give up. A pity, because the elements to achieve something delicate and fascinating were all there. Anyway, it's a young band with all the time to improve. Let's wait for their second release with hopes.

- Simon V.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/cages