Big Blood – “Dead Songs” – [Time-Lag Records]

ophelia necro   8/18/2010   12-inch, A Library

This is the first full length album from the project Big Blood. The duo is out of South Portland, Maine and are involved with the projects Cerberus Shoal, Threads and Fire on Fire. The duo of Caleb Mulkerin and Colleen Kinsella had a baby together, left Cerberus Shoal and Big Blood was born. This album is called Dead Songs. When I first put it on my boyfriend said that it made him want to kill himself and he works at a funeral home. He made the observation without seeing the cover, knowing the name of the album or song titles (Curtain Call, Lay Your Head on the Rails, etc.) Undeniably, the melancholy on this release is palpable, but it is also hauntingly beautiful. Colleen’s vocals have been compared to the likes of Coco-Rosie and Joanna Newsome but although high pitched I find her vocals less grating. Occasionally Caleb also comes in with vocals which at times seem like he is channeling Neil Young. Freak folk, fuzzed-up garage folk anthems, psychedelia with a country tinge. Accordion on Curtain Call. Also worth mentioning is the packaging a gorgeous full color 60s style gatefold cover with clear varnish overprinting, large offset printed vellum insert, full color art labels, etc. pressed on the highest quality 180gm virgin vinyl. Pressed in a limited edition of 700 copies.