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Beady Belle – C.E.W.B.E.A.G.A.P.P.I.C.

Categories : Electronica, Music Reviews.

Rating: 4.5/5 Released: August 9th, 2004 (North American) Reviewer: Jason Zalmanowitz

Complex. Easy. White. Black. Electronic. Acoustic. Groovy. Ambient. Programmed. Played. Improvised. Composed. C.E.W.B.E.A.G.A.P.P.I.C. Just don’t categorize Beady Belle. Fine, categorize them into Adult Contemporary, but don’t say I didn’t warn you…

After an awe-inspiring performance from Beady Belle’s latest tour promoting their new CD, I felt inclined to go down to my local reseller and pick up the little plastic disc that they were offering. While it is not to be discounted as a lesser being, her live performance was exponentially better. Beady’s vocal control somehow managed to captivate a full room of semi-drunk intimates. It felt as if she, Beate Lech, was singing right to me. It was an oddity as her voice tickled and teased my ears, from the slower Latin grooves of “Lose and Win” to the faster harmonies of the Deep House single “Bella”.

Beady Belle, often grouped with Fauna Flash, Bugge Wesselsoft, and Mouse on Mars, have been growing strong since their first home-studio album, “Home”. The majority of “Home” was filled with interesting musical journeys set to the theme of Jungle rhythms, save the incessant drone of a pulsing 909 bass drum. Since the release of “Ghosts”, their first single in 2001, both the Jazz and Underground communities had begun to take notice of this Norwegian duo. Now that Beate S. Lech and bassist Marius Reksjo have found their footing, they are ready to step into the nu-Jazz world with “Cewbeagappic”.

“It’s a happy song, yet gloomy, it’s about the day she died yet the day she started to live. It’s a song about Bella’s fear, yet her wishful dreams about her cutting lose from expectations at the risk of indifference. It all began the day she came home after being away for a long time” proclaims the introduction to “Bella”, the first single off of Cewbeagappic. Unfortunately, this single is a beautiful disaster. A forced transition from an otherwise beautifully mixed CD really puts the whole feel off. But then again, all feelings of distaste towards the transition go away after about 4 seconds. Beate’s voice kicks in, and then the drums kick in, and before you know it you’re dancing in your shower.

And about that flow mentioned earlier. When pessimistic lyrics about life, “I let my oars fall into the water, good for them, getting what they want,” love, “You blew, you had me punctured, you refilled me, administered artificial respiration to me, now I’ve forgotten how to breath by myself,” and self “It’s only an April fool, the truth is disguised, I wish I could stay as cool when reality bites,” are mixed with bizarrely up tempo beats – its often hard to decide your mood. But if there is one thing that is quite easy to ascertain, it is that these lyrical maladities seem to blend together – drawing you into each life experience decreed in these short ballads.

“Cewbeagappic” is a pleasant, cooling, emotive mix of the best in jazz, down tempo, soul and house. If you have ever though that jazz is a thing of the past and never improves, this album is a one that you must listen to. No more Diana Krall, no more Cher, no more Portishead, and stay away from that Ibiza chillout – for Beate S. Lech and Marius Reksjo are a welcome replacement to the redundant solo-genre artists.