Like all famous sisters, one is the Beyoncé and one is the Solange. In my assessment, CocoRosie’s Bianca Casady is the Solange, with her artsier affectations and affinity for absurdist costumes and unibrow, while classically trained opera vocalist Sierra Casady plays the role of the older, wiser, more-loved sister. Bianca and Sierra didn’t actually grow up together, so there’s probably less animosity between the two resulting from their parents obvious preference for the Beyoncé of the pair, but let’s just run with that idea and use it as the assumed foundation for the ‘ongoing dialog’ that they call their musical output.
With all that in mind, it’s been three years since the freak folk sister-duo have put out a proper full-length album, with 2010’s Grey Oceans (TMT Review). Did you miss them? If so, you’ll be glad to hear that a new album, titled Tales of a GrassWidow, will land May 27 in Europe courtesy of City Slang and May 28 in the US as a self-released effort. What does it sound like? Well, according to the first single, “Gravediggress”, streaming below, it sounds like what would happen if Stevie Nicks played a French prostitute character on a particularly spooky episode of Adventure Time, which is to say that fans should rest assured that the group is sticking to what works for them. The album features a guest spot from frequent collaborator and ghost-friend Antony Hegarty, as well as production support from Icelandic composer Valgeir Sigurðsson.
Word is that the group will be touring ‘round the world, but for the time being we only have a number of European dates centering around the release of the album, with more announcements sure to come. And if you’re not into CocoRosie’s music, you’ll be glad to hear that they have a number of other artistic endeavors that you may care to appreciate. In the works is a production of Peter Pan, commissioned by the Berliner Ensemble along with theatre director Robert Wilson, and a print publication from Bianca called “Girls Against God.” Bianca asked Sierra to contribute, but just like Beyoncé, she was too busy being better than everyone else.
Tales of a GrassWidow tracklisting:
01. Afterlife
02. Tears for Animals
03. Broken Chariot
04. Child Bride
05. End of Time
06. Harmless Monster
07. Gravediggress
08. RIP Humans
09. Roots of My Hair
10. Villain
11. Poison
Tourdates:
05.24.13 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys Neue Welt
05.25.13 - Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gefaehrlich
05.26.13 - Brussels, Belgium - Cirque Royale
05.27.13 - Paris, France - Theatre Des Bouffes Du Nord
05.28.13 - Paris, France - Le Trianon
05.29.13 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli
05.30.13 - Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxemburg - Rockhal
05.31.13 - Mannheim, Germany - Maifeld Derby Festival
06.01.13 - Munich, Germany - Alte Kongresshalll
06.02.13 - Strassbourg, France - La Lalterie
06.03.13 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Salzhaus
06.04.13 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks
06.05.13 - Basel, Switzerland - Kaserne
06.08.13 - Girona, Spain - Milestone Project Festival
06.19.13 - Prage, Czech Republic - Archa Theater
06.22.13 - Duisburg, Germany - Traumzeit Festival
07.18-21.13 - Southwold, Suffolk - Latitude Festival
• CocoRosie; https://www.facebook.com/pages/CocoRosie/6762792489
• City Slang: http://www.cityslang.com
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