Cripple Crow

Rolling Stone (No. 983, p.107) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...[J]oyful melodies on charming, fully realized tunes...the soundof a talented space cadet finding his bearings." Entertainment Weekly (No. 840, p.86) - "...[T]he singer tackles tropicalia and '60s soul with aplomb, his boundless talents in full flight." - Grade: A- Uncut (p.96) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[H]e further fleshes out the quavering song-sketches that appeared on his earlier releases. Drawing on harmony-laden '60s pop, Indian-tinged psychedelia and Brazilian Tropicalia for light and shade." Magnet (p.53) - Ranked #17 in Magnet's "The 20 Best Albums Of 2005" - "[The] album encompasses the sort of breadth - from psychedelia to tropicalia to baroque pop - you thought died in the early '70s." Magnet (p.87) - "[L]aced with splashy ballads, one of them sung in impeccable Spanish....Enthralling music that embraces you..." The Wire (p.51) - "This is a lovely, beautifully recorded disc. The guitars are rich and clear....CRIPPLE CROW is a masterly record, and Banhart has a beautiful voice, full of teasing, warbling microtones." Dirty Linen (p.58) - "[His] most accessible, and musically consistent album..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.60) - Ranked #28 in Mojo's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2005" - "An eclectic hippy opus with glitter on its face..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.110) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Veering between Spanish folk, strutting blues and campfire incantations, Banhart thins out the clotted intensity of his early work....CRIPPLE CROW is a mature work from a fascinating man."

ポスト・ロック／エレクトロニカの向こう側に妖しく横たわるフリー・フォーク・シーン。そのアンチ・ヒーロー＝デヴェンドラ・バンハートによる新作はバンド形態での楽曲が増えたことで、よりポップに花開きました。マーク・ボランばりに震える歌声は、シド・バレットやピーター・アイヴァースとも比肩する甘くて危険なアシッド・キャンディー。トロピカリズモな饗宴も加わって、奇妙な音はフワリと空間を彷徨うのです。
bounce (C)久保 正樹