Joy Shapes

To say that the words 'unique' and 'singular' are overused in describing music is to state the obvious. To apply these words to the sounds created by the various duo/trio configurations of the Texas group Charalambides would be an understatement. To be sure, there are numerous antecedents to their music, but they have broken new ground in the primitive/folk/mystic/improv/psych valley in which they toil. As Marcus Boon wrote in The Wire, '...here is a truly 21st century experimental ethnic music that explores quietness and stasis...in the same way that musicians in the second half of the 20th century discovered amplification, noise and speed.' Their new album, 'Joy Shapes,' is certainly not for the faint of heart. Five songs stretch and crawl over 75 minutes, with Christine Carter finding a new fearlessness in her voice that will draw comparisons to Patty Waters or the early work of Meredith Monk.