EDISON WOODS
self-titled (Endearing Records)
Reviewed by Holly Day

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With their heavy use of violin and cello (provided by Linnea Weiss and Enion Pelta respectively) and fronted by Julia Frodhal on piano and vocals, Edison Woods is borderline classical at some times, and moody, dark cabaret at all the others. It never really picks up speed or clashes into some great big orchestral sound, yet always seems just at the border of doing so, building incredible tension throughout the album by just their sheer restraint. It's funny - most of the songs here were apparently written and recorded during the dead of winter in New York, and, like Low (who hail from Duluth, Minnesota), there's a hint of that kind of winter in these songs, where everything moves in slow motion if not stopped in tracks completely.

[Pick this up at www.endearing.com.]

© 2002 - Holly Day