...La Merde et Les Etoiles

In a play, every mood is carefully orchestrated, each step meticulously considered, and every role vitally important. Of course, someone always emerges as the "star", even if other, equally deserving contributors are ignored. If ...La Merde et Les Etoiles (if high school French serves, "The Shit and the Stars") were a play, singer/songwriter Bob Massey would be the star, and his lyrics his character. As in any play, it would be foolish to forget or downplay the importance of the supporting characters. Although few of them are on stage for any amount of time, each makes a mark with an interesting interpretation of the given role. Luther Gray's drums skulk like Shakespeare's Shylock, Johanna Claasen's bass anchors the set with spare decoration, and the rest of the players appear like a Greek chorus -- sometimes providing soft uplift, but more often than not supporting the stark and downtempo mood. Like the best of Black Heart Procession, Nick Cave and Red House Painters, this music is subtly unsettling, deeper and darker than its simple elements suggest. -splendid-