After the success of the midlands based octet’s early summer EP Meshkalina (on which they turned South American psych act Traffic Sound’s classic into dancefloor soul) DC Fontana return with a new album of (all but one) songs sung in French and Italian.
Word has it that the French and Italians who already have taken DC Fontana to their collective and stylish bosoms are fanatical about this hot and sultry side to the band’s repertoire. Besides, how often do Brits attempt to record in foreign languages anyway?
The sequence of songs on La Contessa is contrasting to say the least, and one could never accuse DC of being stuck in one groove. “Aural cuisine” is what DC Fontana call their style. “We love taking disparate ingredients and feeding them into the soup!
“There are no boundaries, no hang-ups or hoodoos for us…. it’s lovely to write and record in a number of different directions and we’ve always felt the freshness and inspiration that can be drawn from having a consciously eclectic open mind.”
La Contessa works as so much more than a stop gap until the next album comes along. What’s cooler than femme vocals in French and Italian backed by a red-hot band who cherish every note they play?
Donald Ross Skinner’s production (of Julian Cope fame) is to die for. Christan Badzura contributes some amazing string arrangements, performed by The Liverpool Session Orchestra, old acid folkies Brandywine Bridge add a dash of Gryphon/Circulus medieval cheer to the proceedings whilst Indian musicians from Birmingham (including the world renowned Surinder Sandhu) bring some exotic Asiatic flavours to the table.
Utterly well played and sung, unpredictable and as good as the music that inspired them. DC Fontana are forever moving forwards…. So before they embrace Teutonic grooves, revel in their trip around the World. Orchestration, psychedelia, soul, jazz, R&B, pop and folk, it’s all here.