Goya DressCountry of origin:Scotland, England Type of music generally:Alternative pop/rock Status:Band has broken up. Their last (and only) full-length album, Rooms, was released in 1996. The lead singer, Astrid Williamson (who first recorded as simply "Astrid"), released a solo album in '98 and the rest of Goya Dress' personnel appear on it. See also:The Astrid Williamson's site Comparisons:Kristin Hersh, PJ Harvey, or Lisa Germano. (Neile) Covers/own material:Own, occasional covers General comments:The very first Goya Dress EP, Bedroom Cinema has a song where Astrid Williamson's voice really sounds like Jane Siberry's to me—quite a surprise to hear Jane singing in a alternative rocky/dreamy/indefinable kind of Brit rock band—but for the most part since then neither the band Goya Dress' work nor Astrid's solo album sound particularly like Jane. There's especially little similarity in musical style but the voices can be somewhat similar. Astrid's voice is more scratchy than Jane's and her music can basically be described as alternapop/rock. It's pop but along the lines of Kristin Hersh, PJ Harvey, or Lisa Germano, though more pop than Kristin and more upbeat than as relentlessly dark as Lisa. Astrid Williamson has quite a way with a pop hook, and these songs will really grow on you, from the upbeat songs to the haunting ballads. I love this music. Cool band name, too. (Neile) Recommended first album:Rooms or the Bedroom Cinema ep if you can find it Recordings:
Bedroom cinema epRelease info:1996(?)—Nude records Availability:Hard to find Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Astrid Williamson—guitars, piano, vocals Comments:An extremely catchy set of songs. Maybe because it's the first thing of theirs I heard, but I think it knocks the rest (except maybe the album, which though it took a while to grow on me I now love) out of the water. It's here that Astrid's voice most strongly reminded me of Jane Siberry, and the songs were enough to make me follow the band and get each of their new releases as they appeared. This is wonderful alternative pop, alternately rocking and haunting. (Neile) Ruby epRelease info:1996(?)—Nude records Availability:Hard to find Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Astrid Williamson—guitars, piano, vocals Comments:For some reason I haven't been able to get into Ruby—maybe I just haven't given it enough of a chance because it has been overshadowed by Bedroom cinema and Rooms, and now Astrid's first solo release. While I like the songs here, I would say it's the least essential of their releases. (Neile) RoomsRelease info:1996—Nude Records (distributed by Sony Music)—483902-2 Availability:Large (in Europe) Ecto priority:Medium Group members:Astrid Williamson—guitars, piano, vocals Produced by:John Cale Comments:The album, Rooms, ranges from the extremely boppy "Crush" (one of the singles) and powerful, haunting "Glorious" (the other single). I think there's a lot of promise there, and in the meantime I'm delighted to listen to Bedroom Cinema and Rooms. It was one of my favourite pop album of all this summer, though it's hard to pinpoint why it's so catchy and why I find it compelling. Something to do with the way Astrid Williamson sings and constructs songs. It's alternapop with touches of the bigger stuff. Lively and haunting both. (Neile) Thanks to Yves Denneulin for work on this entry.
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