A sophisticated and assured piece of work, Cook’s second
album Twice manages to weave a
complex combination of instrumentation around a central sound and mood that is
both vivid and highly atmospheric. While her debut album was almost girl next
door London lovers rock, Twice is
dancehall as art form and lovers rock as filmic soundtrack.
Cook’s debut self titled album was dedicated to the Slits
frontwoman, and Twice opens with ‘Ari
Up’, an atmospheric slice of ska which begins as a hymn like eulogy with its
proclamation ‘Come, let her fire blaze on’. Of all the tributes written to Ari
Up, this salute from protégée to mentor is surely the sweetest.
The slow tracks such as ‘99’, the single ‘Looking for real love’ and album teaser ‘Twice’ mix strings with loping bass, brooding tension
and sweetly sad vocals, with ‘99’ and ‘Looking for real love’ reflecting a
shift in mood from earlier post break up song ‘That Very Night’.
By contrast, ‘Desdemona’, ‘Tiger Balm’ and ‘Superfast’ are
playful ska infused high quality pop songs whereas ‘Win or Lose’ features
harmonised layered vocals over a loping bass line. It manages to be spacey and
brooding while remaining sparkling.
Of the up tempo pieces, ‘Postman’ is a particularly good
track. It begins enigmatically with a disembodied voice saying, soothingly,
‘You are awakened by sun in the distance’ against a delicate riffle of steel
drums and strings. The use of steel drums alongside the ska bass and strings
makes this it very danceable to, not to mention a good choice for a future
single. It is crowned in its perfection by a particularly delightful drum roll
at the end.
But the standout track has to be the title song,
‘Twice’. A gorgeous slow burner, the
delicately mournful strings and slow brooding groove combine with the slow,
seductive vocals to build an atmosphere of evening sultry heat. ‘I try
everything once,’ purrs Cook, ‘twice if I like it.’
This is a grower that
rewards with repeated listens, and builds on the impressive experimentation
established by the spacey, dubby ‘Sugar Water’ on Cook’s debut album. ‘Twice’ is perhaps the most experimental and
textured piece on the album and, while it is complex in structure; it still
feels spacious rather than crowded by orchestral swirls and occasional guitar
fuzz.
Sophisticated and atmospheric, with a central cohesion and
mood, Twice is an accomplished album
by an artist still testing her wings in many ways. Having yielded at least two
possible contenders for song of the year, the album is in a strong position for
album of the year.
Twice is out now on Mr
Bongo.
