| Roma di Luna: Bare Essentials |
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| Written by Andrea Myers | |
| Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 02:48 AM | |
 Channy and Alexei Moon Casselle - Photo by Karen Moon "I think it inspires the work," says Channy, her delicate features relaxing into an easy smile. "It can get tense, but it's like a different role almost. It's very intertwined, it's much like a band mate, but there's a little more forgiveness because you love the person." Though the two practice together, they explain that most of the songwriting is done individually. "When we started out, we tried to write together," starts Alexei, and Channy steps in to finish his sentence. "We attempted that," she giggles. "We wrote one song together about a gypsy that broke my heart, or something..." "It didn't work out so well," he finishes. "But it was still collaborative in the sense that she was getting comfortable with the guitar chords, and I would try to help her find out what chords went where and help her arrange stuff." Even though their creative process doesn't play out quite as effortlessly as in the movies, there is still an aura of other-worldly romance surrounding the songs on Find Your Way Home. Similar to last year's enchanting EP, Face of My Friends, which found it's way to the top of many local music fan's year end lists, the album is a collection of vulnerable, sparse and haunting moments. Unlike most contemporary roots musicians, who tend toward male-female harmonies and duets, Channy and Alexei take turns singing the songs solo over a delicate arrangement of instruments. It gives the songs an immediacy that would fade with additional layers, while maintaining a surprisingly lush and haunting ambiance. The album was produced by Ben Durrant at Crazy Beast Studio, and includes a surprisingly long list of guest musicians (including James Buckley, Durrant, J.G. Everest, Michael Rossetto, Steve Yasgar), but the album still retains the intimacy of a duo creating music together. "We want to stay true to that folk influence," says Alexei. "It's really just a documentation of the songs we had at the time. It sounds very obvious, but I want to keep it like that. Recording, it's an enigma to me, and I don't want to invest too much time into it. I know I will go insane if I try to sit down and become one of those people that tries to make it too perfect. A philosophy that we both share musicially seems to be: just get the point across. Get the mood across. And if that's good enough, then that's a good take." "There are parts of the album where I'm like, ohh, that's a little off," admits Channy, "maybe a little out of tune, but it conveyed the emotion of the song. That has to be there. That's the priority for us." Of course, the bare-bones style of early 20th Century folk music that Roma di Luna embraces could fall flat in the wrong hands. Luckily for Channy and Alexei, it's their flaws that make them even more endearing. An immensely talented vocalist, Channy's moans, sighs and yelps are what makes her melodies so captivating; while Alexei, who is best known for a dramatically different role as local hip hop MC Crescent Moon, has a deep, quivering voice that adds a dark and steady twist. True to form, there is throat-clearing, giggling, and whispered words of encouragement sprinkled throughout the songs, creating the feel of a basement recording session among friends. Loosely translated, the words Roma di Luna conjure up images of jangling gypsies dancing in the moonlight, banding together to trade goods and songs on a warm summer night. If their new album is any indication, Roma di Luna's CD release show will be nothing short of a hootenanny. Roma di Luna website Roma di Luna on MySpace Download "No Child of My Own ," from Roma di Luna's new full-length album, Find Your Way Home UP NEXT: Roma di Luna play their CD release show at the Cedar Cultural Center this Thursday, Sept. 6 with JoAnna James. 7:30 p.m. All Ages. Free. |
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| Last Updated: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 09:07 AM |
