The Czars, The Ugly People Vs. The Beautiful People (Bella Union) 9+
While The Czars hail from Denver, Colorado and are often labeled New Americana alongside fellow Denver natives 16 Horsepower, this band is as unique as they come. The country and folk roots are buried within their lush arrangements, and are as difficult to pinpoint as the orchestral soul of Lambchop and Pernice Brothers. Their music has a melancholic, cinematic quality of the Tindersticks, mixed with the mournful atmosphere of Ennio Morricone. They boast an extraordinary singer in John Grant, whose clear, strong multi-octave voice echoes that of Tim Buckley. Not surprisingly, they contributed a stunning cover of "Song To The Siren" to Sing a Song for You: A Tribute to Tim Buckley. And if you're not confused enough, there's also a slight Radiohead vibe (partially due to Thom Yorke's obsession with Jeff Buckley, Tim's equally talented but lesser accomplished son). Like last year's debut Before…But Longer, The Ugly People Vs. The Beautiful People was produced by The Cocteau Twins' Simon Raymonde and engineer Giles Hall, for their label Bella Union. Like labelmates Lift To Experience, The Czars strive for a sprawling, grandiloquent statement. They succeed swimmingly. Ugly People… flows gorgeously like a giant iceburg, occasionally encountering oceanic storms like the rocking "This" and the dramatic organ-drenched crescendos of "Side Effect." Pianos and acoustic guitars are augmented by trombone, trumpet (Ron Miles contributes an impressive improvisation on "Caterpillar"), pedal steel, violin and occasionally electronics, not unlike recent Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. The Czars' overall sound, however, is quite simple and uncluttered, everything in its place. "Killjoy" is pure joy, a timeless country-pop melody with a thoroughly modern sound, assisted by Tarnation's Paula Frazer. "Lullaby 6000" is another major highlight, an epic slow-burn ballad that peaks with Frazer and Grant harmonizing beautifully. The rest of the album is less immediate, a sort of decorative psychedelia that hangs nicely in the air like suspended flowers which ultimately enhance the impact of the peaks. Meet The Czars, future rulers of your mash mixes.
