Emily Cross is what gives Cross Record such appeal. The voice of the musician is a formidable weapon, and the material which surrounds it is usually compelling too. That's true about the new Cross Record album, Crush Me.
The title cut places Emily's voice amid samples and drum patterns, the electronic elements contrasting nicely with the naturalness of her delivery, while "Led Through Life" is more melodic and obviously lovely. Things get really interesting on "Designed in Hell" where the treated vocals and atmospherics give the cut a real sense of plodding doom. Similarly, the treatments around the voice of Emily Cross in "God Fax" are compellingly obtuse and stubbornly unpretty.
The sound of Cross Record has progressed. What was previously music that was icily beautiful, is now foreboding, dense, and dark. This is complex stuff, with Emily's voice sort of lighting the way through the dark clouds of the material. Fans of early Anita Lane may find a slight resonance here. Highly recommended.
Crush Me by Cross Record is out now via Ba Da Bing Records.
[Photo: Sarah Derer]