Voxtrot
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP (Cult Hero)
Voxtrot believes in Mother Nature: familial love, horticulture, feline days, and lupine nights. In the realm of the Austin quintet, all paths cross, and on this second EP of popalicious hits, Ramesh Srivastava’s troupe provides hope and optimism through 17 minutes of glorious melody. “You have to lose a love to find one,” Srivastava croons on the opening title track, a warning to cynical lovers. While “Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives” would fit easily on last year’s addictive Raised by Wolves EP, the remaining four tracks jump back a couple decades, taking their cues from the Beatles, Kinks, and Glen Campbell, of all people. “Fast Asleep” is a simple rock & roll triumph diving through time changes with a rhythm that makes you dance in the kitchen with skillet in hand. Tossing strings into the pot, “Rise Up in the Dirt” is demanding and pleading at once. “Four Long Days” hollers to the “Wichita Lineman” while remaining somehow modern. The sticky meringue on the cake is horn-wrangled closer “Soft & Warm.” This is Voxtrot’s strong point – jumpy lines melded with climactic choruses and loads of charm. Just go with it, and don’t be afraid to grin. It’s nature’s way of telling you that these past couple of decades have been far too heavy. (Wednesday, March 15, 9pm @ Emo’s Main)
This article appears in March 10 • 2006.