by François Couture
Blue Curtain is a very personal project. Vocalist/pianist Phoebe Legere's touch can be felt everywhere. Her four-octave vocal range drives this continuous one-hour piece. The album opens on a Native American song but is quickly taken over by sonic mayhem, thanks to Ikue Mori on electronic percussion, Jim Staley on trombone, Todd Horton on trumpet and the occasional contribution of Steve Butters on percussion. Legere sings a long poem involving metaphysical questions, fashion and an obsession with television over an improvised setting. Her voice is overdubbed to add texture and the whole thing is anchored by rhythm loops that establish a groove for her to shape the text over (although she never indulges in rapping). The last ten minutes of … » Read more