A marvel of melancholy pop

There is some melancholy albums that keep you in the dark, underground; this is what might be called the sad melancholy. They can be wonderful for that matter.
Others, on the contrary, you expose it to sunlight. It is an outdoor melancholy, outdoors. They are the melancholic sense intended Victor Hugo, namely "the happiness of being sad." This is the case of this album Blonde redhead.

Blonde redhead is a New York group of Kazu Makino, Japanese, and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace from Italy. Kazu's voice is immediately recognizable and distinguished by its particular ethereal timbre. The Amedeo, who sings several songs on this album exudes melancholy.

They released their first two albums in the mid-90s on the label of Steve Shelley, drummer of Sonic Youth. And the music of their debut (Untitled, La mia vita violenta Fake and can be just as good, the latter being less experimental, more pop-rock) slightly recalled that of their illustrious elders.
The second period was more arty, inspired particularly by the work of Serge Gainsbourg. She gave Albums In an Expression of the inexpressible and Melody of some damaged lemons, successful but uneven.
The album "Misery is a butterfly opens the third period, which we will call pop. Their music becomes more accessible without losing its quality or its interest.

'Misery is a butterfly' comprises eleven relatively slow pop songs which are a succession of discrete but rich compositions, especially the delicate wonders. Each note oozes melancholy and everything is loaded with great emotional intensity.
'Misery is a butterfly' is my favorite album of Blonde redhead to date, my favorite of 2004 also. A delight.

The next album, 23, will be a little less successful.