Jennifer Gentle
Valende (Sub Pop)
Reviewed by Audra Schroeder, Fri., March 11, 2005
Jennifer Gentle
Valende (Sub Pop)
What is it with Italians and Pink Floyd? Maybe writing warbly psych songs is in their blood, but the amount of Sixties psych reverence churning out of the boot is pretty steady. Hailing from Padova, Italy, the duo Jennifer Gentle (Marco Fasolo and Alessio Gastaldello) speak English on their Sub Pop debut Valende, but they've quite possibly devised some other sort of language that only makes sense within their lysergic riddles, like the language only twins know. On the opener "Universal Daughter," singer Fasolo slurs like Syd Barrett over a mini-orchestra of kazoos, pleading about pregnancy and popsicles. Next, "I Do Dream You," is a Nuggets-sized nod to the Kinks, blasted out of a yard-sale amp with quick, urgent stabs. "Tiny Holes" is another Floydian reverie, Fasolo's underwater vocals floating through xylophone and a soothing chorus of "Ah-Ahhhs." The middle of the album devolves into valleys of sound and feedback that gather up unique, guttural sounds, as well as crickets and birds, before reaching the closer "Nothing Makes Sense," which pretty much sums up the Jennifer Gentle experience. Fasolo sings, "Nothing makes sense when you walk" over a marching-band style drum beat, and then for the final chorus, his voice becomes so distorted it sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks dropped acid with Timothy Leary. You're left wondering what you just ingested, and how you can score more. (Wednesday, March 16, 9pm @ Emo's Main)