CocoRosie - Noah's Ark

Genre rock Publisher Touch and Go Records External Links Official Website Touch and Go

Noah's Ark is a pathway to the depth of unpretty feelings, in which CocoRosie deliver a unique rhythm of dysfunction. In "Beautiful Boyz" this sister duo, comprised of Sierra and Bianca Casady, sings of prison love "All those Beautiful Boyz/pimps and queens and criminal queers/all those Beautiful Boyz/tattoos of ships and tattoos of tears." While Noah's Ark has a Bjork feeling to it, there are some pop moments. This can be heard mostly in the title track where the bassline is very reminiscent of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side."

CocoRosie's Noah's Ark is eclectic in it's style and delivery. It's genre is indie-rock, but the Casady sisters add a dash of operatic flows. The range of issues is like a roller coaster in therapy from "Honey or Tar" which confesses "undressed you with my eyes I have/maybe even raped you/in a dark and eerie corner of my mind/I tucked you there." To "Armageddon" which has a gospel style chorus, but comes with it's own social commentary of "and oh what a pity the world's not white/and oh what a shame I don't have blue eyes/God must have been color blind/if I made the world it would all be white."

What is music? What is art? These used to be very simple questions in simpler times perhaps. Noah's Ark challenges whatever preconceived conclusions one has about art, specifically music as art. The best of what is familiar can be found in Bianca's clean, almost pure vocals, which at times visits the depth of suffering that are reminiscent of Billie Holiday. Sierra's operatic gifts married with acoustic guitar and harp allow an acceptance to many of the darker, creepy lyrics. It is the lyrics that give reason to Noah's Ark and CocoRosie's acclaim. Many of the lines are politically, socially, morally debatable, and are often balanced with a poetic effort.

One of the many unique attributes to Noah's Ark is it's creative use of animal noises that resemble those of cows and cats, amongst other barnyard animals. Plus random noises that were well worth the effort in creating, for it enhances the backdrop of the tracks. Guest appearances include: Antony (from Antony and the Johnsons), Bianca's kindred spirit and artist in his own right Devendra Banhart, and French rapper Spleen.

The best of Noah's Ark can be found in the title track, along with "Techno Love" and "Bisonours." They are dancing in the light of creative expression, in which to us onlookers appear to be beautiful or confusing or at times both. Listening to Noah's Ark is like walking through glass and tacks mixed with grass and flowers. It is a journey into pleasure and pain.