It was in 2005 that I heard the American group Shivaree for the first time. One of their most well-known singles, “New Casablanca,” became the song to which I listened the most that year. Well, actually, it was not really the song in itself that haunted me for months, but rather the voice of Ambrosia Parsley. A voice boasting a rare sensuality and smoothness.
We are now in 2011 and members of Shivaree disbanded four years ago. But the voice is still alive and well, and has been embodied in a Canadian singer and songwriter called Adrienne Pierce for a while.
Many artists spend too much time trying to convince audiences that they are talented. As far as Pierce is concerned, no need to worry; the talent is naturally there. In “Oh Deer,” her third album, she lets it speak through atmospheric tunes that match a beautifully endearing voice and innocent yet poetic lyrics.
The 12 songs on the CD were written over several years in Paris, Bologna, Death Valley, Kauai, Vancouver, and Los Angeles. However, listening to them is like taking an imaginary and intimate road trip across Canada. Whether it is the catchy “Guilty of Everything” (my personal favorite), the fanciful “Nightswimming” or the made-for-great-TV-show “Winner Takes It All,” her music spans genres and influences in the same fashion as the country boasts diversity of landscapes, people and cultures. And the more you listen to the album, the more you enjoy what it has to offer.
Pierce reminds me of a younger Kate Bush. While very different in styles, the two artists share a creative intelligence that sets them apart from most of their peers. They are not afraid of using their uniqueness to create music that entertains and makes a lasting impression on listeners.
“Oh Deer” is everything but mainstream. It is the kind of album that will brighten your Sunday mornings and warm your heart in winter. And that is exactly the reason why it is so good.
More about “Oh Deer”
Release date: June 2010
Label: Insectgirl Records
Produced by: Adrienne Pierce, Ari Shine, Marc Wild
Mixed by: Dan Burns
Tracklisting:
2. Black Sand
3. Museum
4. Monsters
5. Three Hours Ago
6. Arc De Triomphe
7. Nightswimming
8. Guilty Of Everything
9. Come Over To My House
10. Winner Takes All
11. Let's Pretend
12. Telescope
Twitter: @cendrinemedia
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