Violet Indiana
Country of origin:
Scotland and England
Type of music generally:
Ethereal dream pop
Status:
Most recent release, Russian Doll (2004)
See also:
Violet Indiana's MySpace pageAlways on the Run's Violet Indiana info
Robin Guthrie's Violet Indiana page
Wikpedia's entries on Robin Guthrie and Siobhan de Maré
The Ectophiles' Guide's page for Cocteau Twins, one of Robin Guthrie's previous projects
Comparisons:
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Robin Guthrie was formerly in the Cocteau Twins. Siobhan de Maré is a former member of Mono.
Recommended first album:
Roulette
Recordings:
- Choke EP (2000)
- Roulette (2001)
- Casino (2002)
- Russian Doll (2004)
Roulette
Release info:
2001—Bella Union
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Robin Guthrie
Siobhan de Maré
Produced by:
Robin Guthrie
Comments:
Shimmering, gauzy dream pop that, at its best, is quite arresting. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Casino
Release info:
2002—Bella Union
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robin Guthrie
Siobhan de Maré
Produced by:
Robin Guthrie
Comments:
This compilation of EPs is a disappointment after Violet Indiana's debut. The mix of Robin Guthrie's watery guitar and Sioban de Maré's film noir chanteuse act, so alluring on Roulette here becomes dreary and forced. None of the songs are developed; instead, there's just a wall of atmosphere and Concept (Cocteau Twins meets Portishead) that doesn't really go anywhere. Even taken in small doses as they were intended, they become monotonous. Here's hoping that the next release strengthens their songwriting skills. (ethereal_lad@livejournal.com)
Russian Doll
Release info:
2004—Bella Union—BELLACD66
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Robin Guthrie
Siobhan de Maré
Produced by:
Robin Guthrie
Comments:
The concept sounds great—mixing Siobhan de Maré's sexy, femme fatal vocals over Robin Guthrie's shimmering wall of guitars. It works, mostly, because the songs are more substantial than Guthrie's "soundscape" aesthetic in the Cocteau Twins. As a singer, de Maré's voice is a little too light and frothy to completely pull off her tales of bruised, mascara-masked vixens, but it's pleasant enough. At its best, Russian Doll evokes a film noir city, where crimes of passion are common. (ethereal_lad@livejournal.com)Dark, dreamy pop. I don't pull this one out often, but I enjoy it when I do. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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