Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, July 6, 2012 Page: 21 of 36
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music
j
LADY IN HER LIFE | Nik Ceo calls her wife Cris
Dee the 'idea genius' behind her showcases.
MOGUL
From Page 16
soul and hip-hop to the stage. Evoking a bit of
Nicki Minaj's oomph with a lot of Janelle
Monae's swagger, Hunter, who performs as
Hunter the One, worked the spotlight as if it
was her headlining night at the House of Blues.
For her, Moscato has been a springboard to get-
ting her music to a broader audience.
"I love that it moves to different locations,
and when Nik calls I come — simple as that,"
Hunter says. "My fan base has increased, I've
sold merchandise and they had the n erve to
throw me a birthday party at the January MML.
I've never not had a great time."
With a demanding day job, Ceo juggles a lot
to keep Moscato going. Planning the monthly
events involves both scouting acts and booking
venues (although Moscato is usually in Addi-
son, it's not always at Otaru). She's made some
adjustments to keep on track and to keep the
label functioning, and many of her expenses are
out-of-pocket.
"The money we get from the music events
goes back into the label to use for the next event
but it is expensive to book," she says. "I'm try-
ing to do stuff for myself and Cris so I decided
not to sign anymore artists. Instead, I'm work-
ing on development with the ones signed with
us already. That's what I love. I think being a
talent scout for a major label would be a cool
thing to pursue."
In the meantime, Moscato travels to Houston
on July 14 as the beginning of her outreach to
other cities and artists. She wants to include
video production into the mix. Ambition clearly
overrides all else.
"I just want a place for queer artists to be able
to be themselves," she says. "I want to give
them that spot where they don't have to craft
songs differently for the sake of the audience or
fear being out. I think it's important to have this
outlet and take it as far as I can. Doors will open
for them. I know it." ■
Goldstar
Band mates realizes its
potential with sophomore
release Tm Gold'
RICH LOPEZ I Staff Writer
lopez@dallasvoice.com
The local duo Bandmates has al-
ways had a quirky charm. Partners
in both music and life, Kimberly
Castrellon and Susan Carson ap-
proach music with a relaxed attitude,
creating a landscape of hippie sensi-
bilities that feel gloriously nostalgic
yet fresh. In their second album I'm
Gold, their best talents come to-
gether for a lush package of tracks
that put them on an entirely new
level.
The duo's first release, 2006's The
Buddha and the Alien, hinted at their
Woodstoek-ish sound, but in Gold
their potential becomes fully real-
ized. That shows immediately on the
opening track, which sets the tone
with stellar production values capturing all the
nuanced sounds without any mismatched levels.
"Cancun" eases you into the album setting the
groovy mood and introducing the band's pol-
ished sound, Castrellon's layered vocals display
maturity and smoothness against the trippy gui-
tar that keeps her afloat like a raft on whitewater.
There's a lot of Mamas and Papas channeling
here — quite a feat, since Castrellon handles the
majority of the vocals with Carson along for
most of the ride. But the engineered
harmonies are exquisite. On the flip
side, when she's on her own, Castrel-
lon sings with devout conviction tak-
ing on the characters of her song
from the eclectic, as in "IX14," to the
comforting ("Blue Blue Moon"). The
languid "Embrace" plays way sexy
with Santana-like guitars gracing the
tune as Castrellon turns on height-
ened sensuality. This is great work.
Carson's presence is hardly unno-
ticed; she's the backbone of Band-
mates. Primarily working on bass, she doesn't let
it slide away into rhythm track limbo, giving
gritty touches necessary on the edgier "Hit It"
and filling in a sophisticated groove to "Spy-
ware." She adds unique touches with her up-
right: bass-playing and most notably, her ukulele
work.
Bandmates didn't scrimp on tracks with a
healthy 14 songs on the disc, but they keep them
short and sweet (the album clocks in at just 38
minutes). If s an ambitious package, largely suc-
cessful, but they do have their missteps. Where
much of the album flows with its identity, some
tunes derail it.
The title song comes off like a wild mashup,
where staccato singing doesn't match the flow-
ing guitars; it's a shame, because the lyrics are
compelling. What could have been anthemic
I'M GOLD
Bandmates
Independent
HIPPIE CHICKS | Partners in life and music, Carson and Cas-
trellon make beautiful music together on their sophomore album.
plays as epileptic.
The penultimate track, "Delightful," drones
on — not a good vibe at the end of an album.
Despite strong musical touches, the chorus runs
weak and overall, the elements didn't gel. Those
along with a couple of other weaker tracks
seemed more focused on elements singularly
than the portrait of the entire song.
As songwriters, Castrellon and Carson offer
quality lyrics. For Gold, they paint pictures of
tropical nights and island moons with-
out resorting to Beach Boys rip-offs.
Their folk found ation is secure while
they add subtle elements like the uke
and classical guitar adeptly con-
tributed by former Jane Doe member
Gloria Cortez (Carson is also a Jane
Doe alum).
Major props go to Cortez's work.
She's mastered the art of making an
electric guitar seem to whisper, like in
^ "I Want You Real." Her strings hover
like ghosts that you feel instead of hear.
Along with Cortez, a roster of guest musicians
helped make Gold into a complete package.
Brandon Law's percussion on "Sanctuary"
comes off as simple, but it offers a strong sense of
weight to rely on. Roxanne Layton's recorder
work is stellar on "Caught in a Dream" proving
it doesn't have to sound like that treacherous ele-
mentary school instrument everyone's forced to
learn. Jerri Parkhurts and April Samuels also
contribute impressive drum and percussion
work throughout.
This is part of the magic of Bandmates and
perhaps even the genesis of their name. They are
a duo that creates a family of musicians which
shows in the album's cohesion. I'm Gold is a
major step forward for Bandmates. They've
learned their strengths but challenge themselves
to be better. And it shows.
SIGHTINGS:
ERICK
SWENSOIM
Extended through
September 9
Nasher Sculpture Center
nashersculpturecenter.org
Dallas Arts District
Akone-IA-WSponw
Ere* Sweraori Sdhvarme/i* lm process 2012 Acrybe and orf on
yrethane resin and silicon©. dtmensKxts vanaWa. Courtesy of the artist.
Talley Dunn Gallery, Dallas and James Cohan GaJtary. Hem Ybrk
O Encfc Swenjon Photo Kevin Todoo
The Senro a oaiwousfty spQ/*50#0d «n pari try The Avam
Garde Society of the Mwhe* Sculpture Center
Contemporary Sponsor Mantveth Messmao Peters of Bein Aflman
& Assoc. Modem Sponsor CBRE
07.06.12
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Wright, John. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, July 6, 2012, newspaper, July 6, 2012; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth308874/m1/21/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.