Valparaiso - Broken Homeland (2017) CD Rip

If it hadn’t been for the inclusion of Howe Gelb; I doubt I would actually have listened to this record. The accompanying press release gives us a history lesson on VALPARAISO (a seaport in Chile) and the ‘Musical Collective’ from Paris who adopted the name after seeing some photographs from an ‘iconic photographer’ (whom I’ve not heard of)….stylistic/mystic/symbolism/imagery……ho hum……GIVE ME MUSIC!
Oh dear Lord …the first song, Rising Tides is simply beautiful. Howe Gelb resurrects the laid back style of his ALEGRIAS collaboration in 2011; a breathy talking manner alongside Phoebe Killdeer from the enigmatic Nouvelle Vague; and I was ensnared like a big fat fish on a big shiny hook.
The singers/narrators come and go at will; with each adding their own ‘magic dust’ to a series of laid back Jazzy grooves that will set your heart racing and curdle your blood in equal measures at different times.
Each track stands alone; telling it’s very own story with Shannon Wright’s shimmering voice turning Bury My Body into a Parisian Gothic tale of epic proportions in under 3 minutes.
Blown By The Wind (feat. Marc Hughyens), Dear Darkness (feat. Marc Hughyens again with Frederic D Oberland), and Howe Gelb’s The Ghost of Della Rae are probably the most immediately accessibly songs with their Alt. Country/Lo-Fi vibe; but the cinematic The River and Constellations, which melt Jazz into light Classical music are brittle and beautiful and haunting and will make you hold your breath so as not to miss a single note or syllable.
While I ‘bought into the concept’ via Howe Gelb; and there are several delightful surprises along the way the star by far; is Phoebe Killdeer; as whenever her sultry voice pours from the speakers my mouth would automatically fall open in wonderment. The title track Broken Homeland is dreamy in the most delightful way; but I will have to go with Wild Birds as my ‘favourite song’.
Her rich expressive voice and a shimmering groove encapsulates everything I thought I would initially hate on this record…. it is stylistic, mystic, symbolic and full of Parisian imagery.
Even the songs sung in French add extra mystery and pathos to a starkly beautifully and dark album; that should be listened to in solitude and darkness to get the best from it.
BROKEN HOMELAND is different, very different from anything I’ve ever heard in a long time. It is very much ‘left of centre’ and I will file it alongside Gelb’s Alegrias and my Chet Baker albums…oh…and Robbie Robertson’s Somewhere Down The Crazy River.