Dalbello - Whore
Tracks :- Heavy Boots Easy Whore Eleven Falling Down O Lil Boy Deep Dark Hole Yippie All That I Want Revenge Of Sleeping Beauty Total Playing Time : 47.14 m:s Producers : Dalbello & Richard G. Benoit Label : EMI Music Canada Year : 1996
This is the first album by Dalbello after quite lengthy absence from the world of music, apart from a few songwriting credits. This had received extremely favourable reviews in a couple of places, so when I seen this in the local record store I decided to take a risk and see what it was like. I don't have any of the earlier albums so I won't be able to compare this with her previous work.
This is one of those albums that if it clicks you love it, but if it doesn't then you'll probably loath it. This sports a contemporary sound. Both Alanis Morisette and Nine Inch Nails have been cited as reference points. I'll have to agree with these and to be honest there aren't any others that spring to mind.
I would guess that this album was constructed, rather than merely recorded in the studio. The songs have a lot going on and I imagine the producers spent long hours building up the layers of sound. I guess that's why some people have been using the word 'industrial' to describe it.
There are no instant fixes on offer here. Listening is demanding and I doubt anyone could fall in love with this on the first listen. Repeated listens are required to appreciate what's going on.
To these ears the highlights tend to be concentrated towards the end of the album. 'O Lil Boy' has a hint of the India. The funky rhythms of 'Deep Dark Hole' eventually give way to a grunge style workout, so it's a bit surprising that I like this one. 'Yippie' continues with yet more strained vocals.
The best song 'The Revenge Of Sleeping Beauty' is saved until the end. A Middle Eastern sound drives this along. The best way of describing this is 'a bastard son of Led Zep's Kashmir'.
Repeated listening to this might just turn it into an album that you rave about, but it'll be tough going before you reach that point. Approach with caution.
Rating : 5
