The last of my contemporary American Indian series, featuring musical duo Cocorosie:
(screenshots from Cocorosie's Lemonade)
From a Cherokee background, sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady as children were nomads. They moved around almost every year, living in Hawaii, California, New Mexico, and Arizona. Without formal education, they grew up learning art in the "real world." During summers, they would join their now estranged father on vision quests on various American Indian reservations--these experiences continue to inform their music. Now they are both based in France.
Their music has been characterized as "freak folk" experimental (think Devendra Banhart meets the childish voice of Joanna Newsom), mixed with hip hop, opera, electronic, the blues, and misc. sounds like owls cooing and children's toys. Basically, it's very unique and not for everyone.
For me, sometimes it's discordant and even difficult to listen to. But the moments of delicate melodies and Sierra's opera trained voice cut through the mess, and you suddenly learn that you're tearing up and you can't stop listening to it. My favorite: the album version of Werewolf, one of the few songs I have on continuous repeat.
They recently came out with their fourth album, Grey Oceans (2010). When asked about the inspiration for this album, Sierra spoke about the earth returning to its primeval, natural elemental beings--which are reflected in the androgynous/mystical/fantastical look of Lemonade and Smokey Taboo.
They will be playing in Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg September 15.
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