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Tales of Colour and White is the debut album of Joolie Wood as a solo-artist. Joolie Wood, however, is no stranger within the darkfolk scene and certainly not for the fans of Current 93, as she has been cooperating with Current 93 for a long time as violinist. For her first EP Joolie has called upon the services of a few of the other Current 93-related musicians. She is thus supported by Maja Elliot, Simon Finn, Baby Dee and Karl Blake on Tales of Colour and White.
I have seen Joolie Wood perform live during the Chantier Musical in Paris in may 2006 and that left a great impression on me. Her solemn, girlish appearance enhanced the serene, melancholic atmosphere of her music. The same effect is created on Tales of Colour and White. The fragile, innocent sound of her voice fits well with her songs, even though Joolie isn't a brilliant vocalist.
The first song "Jewel Song" is a short intro-like song without vocals that starts with dreamy, soundscape-like sounds to turn into a friendly sounding folktune in the middle of the song. Joolie used a text from the Book of Isaiah for the second song "You Own the Universe". The atmosphere in the song is made dramatic by the somewhat whining sound of Simon Finn's guitarplay. I think the song is lacking some coherence with piano, guitar and melodica playing their own melodies that don't always seem to fit with one another. The vocals, however, keep the song interesting. On the song "Where all Flowers Grow" Karl Blake joins as vocalist. Karl recites the lyrics and Joolie sings those same lyrics at the same time. This tends to get a bit disorderly now and then, but the song is musically well structured, with a supportive role for guitar and piano and a free and atmosphere-defining role for violin. The highlight of the EP is the last song "Melt with the Snow", where Karl Blake plays on electric guitar. This would seem like a dissonant on this mostly accoustic album, but it works remarkably well. It is a solemn song with piano, violin, harp, accoustic guitar and vocals, with electric guitar now and then breaking in like a passing thunderstorm. The song as a whole is very atmospherical and melancholic.
Joolie Wood delivered a fine debut album with Tales of Colour and White, albeit a bit short. Occasionaly one gets the feeling that she could have made more out of some songs (like "You Own the Universe" for example). Yet, for fans of melancholic folk this album is worthwhile.
di9
I have seen Joolie Wood perform live during the Chantier Musical in Paris in may 2006 and that left a great impression on me. Her solemn, girlish appearance enhanced the serene, melancholic atmosphere of her music. The same effect is created on Tales of Colour and White. The fragile, innocent sound of her voice fits well with her songs, even though Joolie isn't a brilliant vocalist.
The first song "Jewel Song" is a short intro-like song without vocals that starts with dreamy, soundscape-like sounds to turn into a friendly sounding folktune in the middle of the song. Joolie used a text from the Book of Isaiah for the second song "You Own the Universe". The atmosphere in the song is made dramatic by the somewhat whining sound of Simon Finn's guitarplay. I think the song is lacking some coherence with piano, guitar and melodica playing their own melodies that don't always seem to fit with one another. The vocals, however, keep the song interesting. On the song "Where all Flowers Grow" Karl Blake joins as vocalist. Karl recites the lyrics and Joolie sings those same lyrics at the same time. This tends to get a bit disorderly now and then, but the song is musically well structured, with a supportive role for guitar and piano and a free and atmosphere-defining role for violin. The highlight of the EP is the last song "Melt with the Snow", where Karl Blake plays on electric guitar. This would seem like a dissonant on this mostly accoustic album, but it works remarkably well. It is a solemn song with piano, violin, harp, accoustic guitar and vocals, with electric guitar now and then breaking in like a passing thunderstorm. The song as a whole is very atmospherical and melancholic.
Joolie Wood delivered a fine debut album with Tales of Colour and White, albeit a bit short. Occasionaly one gets the feeling that she could have made more out of some songs (like "You Own the Universe" for example). Yet, for fans of melancholic folk this album is worthwhile.
di9