Grammy-nominated [for the soundtrack to Little Miss Sunshine] DeVotchKa blatantly draws influences from Latin and Spanish sources, which is apparent from the beginning of their Anti Records debut release A Mad and Faithful Telling, to end. You’d never guess they were Denver-based. Opening track “Basso Profundo” features maracas and a Latin-style guitar sound behind the band’s catchy “oooh”-ing. Percussion and guitars alone don’t make up DeVotchKa’s unique sound; the disc can also brag a sousaphone, accordion, piano, violin, upright bass, bouzouki, trumpet and a theremin.
My favorite track is the soft and plucky modern pop experiment “A Clockwise Witness.” This song offers some stinging social commentary with: “If you win the rat race/ If you come in first place / Then a rat is all you will be.” DeVotchKa front man Nick Urata laments at how the world is breaking his heart and he simply can’t take it anymore. “Comrade Z” is the record’s sole instrumental track and features a gorgeous violin part along with a complimentary, soft trumpet behind it. “Comrade Z” flows beautifully into digital single “Transliterator,” a track that calls out a lack of respect over bouncy percussion and a beautifully bowed violin.
My only beef with this beautifully well-crafted disc is that the cover art immediately reminded me of Godspeed Your Black Emperor’s Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven (see it). There are obvious differences in both the album covers and each bands’ sound, and I’ve gotten over it, but initially, it was a it off-putting. No fault to the band, though, I’m blaming you, rando graphic designer #7.
The album is gorgeous and sure to be a 2008 favorite. Be sure to pick up a copy on March 18, 2008. Also check out DeVotchKa on tour.
Tour Dates:
Mar 15 – Cedar St. Courtyard/Austin, Tx.
Mar 18 – Twist and Shout Instore/Denver, Co.
04 Apr – Academy 2/Manchester
05 Apr – Vrawdaddy/Dublin
06 Apr – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut/Glasgow
07 Apr – Academy 2 Newcastle/Newcastle Upon
08 Apr – Academy 2 Birmingham/Birmingham
09 Apr – Scala/London
11 APr – Rotown/Rotterdam
12 Apr – Melkweg/Amsterdam
13 Apr – Cafe de la Danse/Paris
14 Apr - Abart Music Club/Zurich
15 Apr – Garaj Istanbul/Istanbul
16 Apr – Vega/Copenhagen
17 Apr – Tacheles/Berlin
18 Apr – Underground/Koln
19 Apr – Ancienne Belgigue/Brussels
20 Apr – Doornroosje/Nijmegen
Apr 26 – Coachella Music Festival/Indio, Ca.
Apr 28 – Fillmore/San Francisco, Ca.
Apr 29 – MacDonald Theater/Eugene, Or.
Apr 30 – The Wonder Ballroom/Portland, ,Or.
May 02 – Richards on Richards/Vancouver, BC
May 03 – Showbox SoDo/Seattle, Wa.
May 04 – The Big Easy/Boise, Id.
May 07 – First Ave/Minneapolis, Mn.
May 08 – Turner Theater/Milwaukee, Wi.
May 09 – The Vic Theater/Chicago, Il.
May 10 – The Vogue/Indianapolis, In.
May 11 – Mercy Lounge/Nashville, Tn.
May 13 – Tee Variety Playhouse/Atlanta, Ga.
May 14 – Orange Peel/Asheville, Nc.
May 15 – Toad’s Place/Richmond, Va.
May 16 – 9:30 Club/Washington Dc.
May 17 – Fillmore at the TLA/Philadelphia, Pa.
May 18 – Paradise/Boston, Ma.
May 20 – Terminal 5/New York, Ny.
May 21 – Diesel Club Lounge/Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 22 – Southgate House/Newport, Ky.
May 23 – The Pageant/St. Louis, Mo.
May 24 – Slowdown/Omaha, Ne.
DeVotchKa: website | myspace
Anti Records: website | myspace
