Released
1998
Label
Nangijala Records
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Contact
Nangijala
Records
Umeagatan 4A
252 77 Helsingborg
Sweden
Visit
Nangijala Records
Last Edit/Update
15 august, 1998
Dark Side Cowboys
UNFORTUNATHALIE
(Mini-CD)
Track Listing
1. UnfortuNathalie (Tied)
2. Missing (Flashback)
3. Noctûrne
4. Bloodred Moon (Never Again)
5. UnfortuNathalie (Live in Studio, TakE 4, agaiN)
6. And There Will Be More (Most part IV)
"It has been a while, and it has its reasons. The chill has been spreading,
biting. But winter is about to end; summer is closing in. And, we know things that you
would never, ever..." Thus begins this trailer to Dark Side Cowboys'
forthcoming 'musical movie' -- Disclosure II. UnfortuNathalie features five
new songs; one of them -- the title track -- in two different versions. It is a collection
of pleasantly melodic songs that combine guitars, hum-along synths, dance inspiring beats
and smooth vocals that are perfomed with a suavity that at times recall British new
romantics and goth bands of the early 80s.
The most compelling songs on the CD
are the opening title track and "Bloodred Moon". On "UnfortuNathalie"
all the musical elements form a very dynamic unity: strong bassy beats, crisp acoustic
guitar chords, and evocative vocals punctuated by catchy refrain sequences that are
supported by powerful electric guitar riffs. "Bloodred Moon" is very much of the
same mould as the former song, although here the synth thematics are more prominent, and
female backup vocals are used to charming effect.
Both "Missing" and
"Noctûrne" are very sparse on instrumentation, especially compared to the two
tracks mentioned above. The vocals are of a more narrative quality, and while these are
not bad songs, they leave one longing for the more expansive side of Dark Side
Cowboys' sound. It is possible that these types of songs constitute the glue
between the more energetic songs on the album, in which case they are somewhat bereft of
their true power on this single release. Closing the CD are a live in the studio
version of "UnfortuNathalie" -- the true appreciation of which probably requires
a greater engagement in Dark Side Cowboys music -- and a very brief march
inspired track entitled "And There Will Be More."
Whereas the inclusion of additional
tracks on this CD-EP is likely to please the band's steady followers, the more casual
listener might feel that more is actually less in this case. It will be interesting to
hear how everything fits together on the upcoming full-length CD. Meanwhile, this single
offers two really good dance tracks, and four odds and ends that slow things down a
little. Like the band's previous releases, and upcoming album, UnfortuNathalie has
been released by the small Swedish label Nangijala.
