| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Lo-fi second from... Welsh songbird. No relative of Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, Cardiff’s very own bi-lingual Cate Le Bon first came to prominence supporting compatriot Gruff Rhys on his 2007 solo tour and has since played Glastonbury, Green Man and Latitude festivals. Now signed to Rhys’ own label Irony Bored, she’s been singled out as the keeper of a haunting (if sometimes) warbly voice and dark lyrical content: she confesses to having an “abnormal fixation with death”. Musically she straddles alt-folk and indie, (with parallels drawn with Nico and Bobby Gentry) so the mainstream potential is slightly limited, because there aren’t any recognisable hits here. Nevertheless, Me Oh My has plenty of melodies to keep you grabbed with a hint of late 60s psych-folk. Her ‘fixation’ seeps out immediately on the strum-lite title track –“Me oh my / Me oh my / I fought he night and the night fought me.” Tormented or what? Anyway, this little sweetie grew up in a much different environment to the principality’s capital – out in rural Pembrokeshire, a lovely region. She grew up on a musical diet of home-grown talent like Super Furry Animals and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci.
Those quirky influences have made an indelible impression on young Cate and they’re all rolled out on Me Oh My which is essentially a folk album, though purists might contend that tag. If that was to be ever dispelled then, It’s Not The End might convert them. Gentle guitar picks and hovering voice and violin solos keep it firmly folk rooted. Closer, Out To Sea has the same effect. They (assorted members of Gorky) have some retro-fun on the edgy Hollow Trees House Hounds with whoever giving it some guitar wellie on a song that would fit the songbook of Californian cult band Love. Terror Of The Man is also steeped in late American underground boosted by rolling keyboard tinkling synonymous with The Doors which also features on Eyes So Bright. Commercialism clearly hasn’t entered Le Bon’s mindset, but she will need something to give this album a nudge, so The Digging Song is the one, which might just get picked up by some intrigued radio producer . The gentle country-rock swagger is coated by some fabulous harmonica a la Neil Young. Me Oh My isn’t going to create massive waves, but it might cause some never-ending ripples. The verdict – One to watch.
Weblinks: catelebon.com / myspace.com/catelebon (Me Oh My sample)
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
