(Muso's Guide, December 16, 2008)
Putting aside a history of religious instruction which could well be described as ‘patchy’, it’s a given even in this church that Noah built the ark. He got some blueprints from Him upstairs or something and knocked up a nifty little craft to hold two of each animal on the planet.
A nice idea, although it would be churlish to suggest that there aren’t some serious holes in this plot.
Anyway, this is Alessi’s Ark, or Alessi, if you like. This EP showcases something very special in modern music. Alessi’s voice is the windfilled sail that speeds the journey, starting with the title track. Alessi’s Emiliana Torrini-style vocal charms and whisks the listener away to somewhere very special on a musical carpet of acoustic guitars and melodious harps.
‘The Horse’ is swooning and wistful and, best of all, leaves you wanting more of the beseeching lyrics- “if you’d like me to” - coming in at just under two minutes.
‘Neighbour’s Birds’ is a multi-instrumental voyage that changes tempo at will, boasting alluring lyrics and unique beats.
On ‘Let’s Race’, Alessi channels Bjork, purring and coquettish, “I’d kiss you, we’re from the same place”. The drums and build-up in ‘Let’s Race’ has all the romantic swagger of an old-school Bond theme, with Alessi’s voice adding an otherworldly side, while closer “Patchwork Of Dreams” truly is as it says, complete with dreamy couplets like “Taking a bus with a don’t-make-a-fuss kind of driver”.
If Noah had animals filing two by two into his ark, Alessi has garnered the twin beasts of ingenuity and talent and squirreled them away until the dark days are over. Thank the Lord.
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