Christine Fellows
Country of origin:
Canada
Type of music generally:
Indie-feeling slightly folky evocative/eclectic alternative pop
Status:
Most recent release, Paper Anniversary, 2005
See also:
Christine Fellows' SiteThe Endearing Records site has some info
Comparisons:
Kristin Hersh, Lisa Germano, Veda Hille, Cat Power, Robin Holcomb, rachel's
Covers/own material:
Own and covers and cowritten songs
General comments:
Christine Fellows is like a cross between Kristin Hersh and Lisa Germano with more art-folk-pop-darkness and a definite Veda Hille edge. (stone@pangea.ca)Kind of like Cat Power or Kristin Hersh with a touch of the quieter side of Veda Hille. Very stripped-down indie feeling with quirky, evocative vocals and lyrics. (Neile)
Her music leaves me breathless and it always is such a strange journey listening to it. It's really great. (RocketsTail@aol.com)
Comments about live performance:
Christine Fellows is as lively and engaging in person as she is on album. I've only seen her once but would love to see her again (and again). Her combination of artful artlessness is a part of her personality and her music and makes for a delightful live show. (6/02, Neile)
Recommended first album:
They're all great, but Paper Anniversary is the greatest
Recordings:
2 little birds
Release info:
2000--Endearing Records
Availability:
Mail order from Endearing Records site or Twee Kitten
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Christine Fellows & the red letter day:
C. Fellows--singing, guitars, piano
Monica Guenter--viola, backups
Stephen Carroll--guitars, guitars
Leanne Zacharias--cello, backups
Guest artists:
Chang--drums
Paul James--bass
Greg MacPherson--vocals
John K. Samson--spoken word
Jason Tait--saw
Comments:
This is a haunting album. In my early listening, I thought some of the songs faded a bit in comparison to the best ones, but as I've listened more I've grown to appreciate the consistent tone throughout. It is subtly brilliant, understated, and emotionally affecting. Extremely promising. (Neile)Take Veda Hille and cross her with Robin Holcomb and add just a touch of something along the lines of Rachel's, and you've got Christine Fellows' first CD. This disc is so good, I was inspired to offer to set up christinefellows.com and maintain her official web site. If that's not enough of a recommendation, check this out for yourself. If you like minimalist piano-and-strings arrangements with rather morbid lyrics, this is definitely one for you! (meth@smoe.org)
One of my favourite albums of the year. (gordoja@optonline.net)
2 little birds is a very good record and likely to be high up on my year-end list. slow, strings, piano, gorgeous. (woj@smoe.org)
It's ace throughout in my opinion. Very minimalistic and haunting. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
I was just listening to Two Little Birds a week or two ago and thinking again about how utterly cool it is. (burka@jeffrey.net)
the last one standing
Release info:
2002--Six Shooter Records--SIX04
Availability:
Available in Canada, or see website for availability
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Christine Fellows--songs, vocals, piano, accordion, samples, guitar, organ polaroids
Guest artists:
Leanne Zacharias--cello, vocals, rhodes, bowed glockenspiel
Jason Tait--drums, percussion, tuning forks, thumb piano, saw, bowed glockenspiel
Monica Guenter--viola
Keith MacLeod--mandolinJohn K. Samson--vocals, bass, guitar solo, "grrr"
Produced by:
Neil Cameron and Christine Fellows
Comments:
It's really wonderful. This is a stronger album than 2 Little Birds, but no less charming. Christine Fellows has a simple yet very effective way of singing. Recommended! (Neile)Started listening to Christine Fellows' new album on the way to work. Of course, several songs I knew from mp3 downloads from her site. The main thing that strikes me so far is the difference in the percussion on the album--there's a lot more of it, particularly drum-kit type stuff. This is not a bad thing, just a different thing. (burka@jeffrey.net)
Paper Anniversary
Release info:
2005--Six Shooter Records--SIX022
Availability:
Available in Canada, or see website for availability
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Christine Fellows--vocals, piano, glockenspiels, loops and samples, field recordings, accordion, Casion SK-1, Casiotone MT-20, bells, prepared piano, music boxes, rhodes
Guest artists:
Leanne Zacharias--cello, vocals, cello arrangement (14), chorus vocal (8)
Jason Tait--drums (1, 4), wineglasses, tuning forks, vibraphone, glockenspiel, programmed drums (2)
Barry Mirochnick--drums (2, 5, 11), vocals
Keith McLeod--mandola, mandolin
Monica Guenter--violin
John K. Samson--electric guitar, vocals
Slap--throat singing (6)
Produced by:
Christine Fellows
Comments:
One of the great albums of 2005. Go. Buy. Now. It's unbelievably good. (meth@smoe.org)Quirky, often delicate, sometimes dark, folk-art songs. In other words, this is Christine's best album yet. If you like Veda Hille's Return of the Kildeer, you should run, not walk, to buy Paper Anniversary. (JoAnn Whetsell)
I would say this album is shockingly good, except the last one standing prepared me for how terrific she can be. Deceptively simple, highly affective, amazing songwriting, and understated, powerful performances. (Neile)
