Ruth Theodore -‘White Holes Of Mole Hills.’ (River Rat Records)
The follow-up to her critically acclaimed album Worm Food, this demonstrates that Ruth Theodore is unquestionably a talented performer and someone who is certainly determined to challenge perceptions of what a female folk-singer might be like. This album has some fantastic arrangements on it and a delivery that gives the impression that on a stage she is absolutely spellbinding. The guitar playing is pretty powerful, too.
So far, so good. The problem is that while she exudes passion and charisma from every pore in her performance, this doesn’t really translate to the first part of the record, and I must confess to having had to listen to this album in chunks rather than being able to take it all in one sitting. It is, at times, a little too clever for its’ own good. In trying to play with the idea of conventional songwriting – no bad thing in itself, and a fairly laudable aim – it can make it a little hard to approach this as an album. Mercifully short on the histrionics that let down many singer-songwriters (we feel your pain – literally -IN OUR EARS), it’s so impassioned and dreamy that there are times this record could make the most twee of twee-pop kids want to grate kittens.
There are many performers who tread the very thin line between kooky and creative. Thing is, for my money, I love Kate Bush and Bjork, and have a lot of time for the likes of Joanna Newsom and Tori Amos. And depressingly, the song that appeals the most is that comapartively stripped down ‘The Evolution Of Mr. Charisma.’
I don’t dispute that Ms. Theodore is clearly a talented, gifted and original performer. But in terms of making a studio album to listen to at home, car on the iPod etc.., this falls short of the mark.
**1/2