When I expressed my excitement over the promo of this new effort by Dean, in collaboration with Luna bassist, Britta Phillips to a buddy of mine, they replied " If Dean were to huff helium and yodel show tunes you'd buy it." Now, Dean has a penchant for interesting covers and most of them turn out pretty good (No Regrets, Ride Into the Sun, Outdoor Miner) but I am by no means of the mind that all he touches turns to gold. See for example the almost painful cover of Alice Cooper's Only Women Bleed (relegated to a UK only single of Lovedust). I have not heard his cover version of Led Zeppelin's Dancing Days and to be honest, I think I can live without that one as well. L'Avventura mixes covers of the Doors, Opal, Buffy St. Marie, the Silver Jews, and perhaps to the most surprising effect, Madonna, interspersed with a handful of new songs penned by Dean including two written by Britta.
I large fan of Wareham's efforts with Galaxie 500 and Luna, as well as his occasional solo cover efforts on rare to find '7s and compilations. That said, I found Cagnee and Lacey, an earlier duo effort with then wife Claudia Silver, a little over the top. Accordingly, I was a bit skeptical of another duet driven cd. There is a big difference between the two. Britta has quite a lovely voice, and this cd is actually quite expansive of Dean's normally jangley guitaring; throwing in the mix some faux disco, a little country twang and an actual string quartet Scorchio (playing Tony Visconti's string orchestrations) Tony, in addition to producing, also added the often featured mellotron as well as occasional bass and guitar playing. Visconti is also known for his production work for T-Rex, David Bowie and Thin Lizzy.
The cd opens with the catchy track Night Nurse, a duet between Wareham and Phillips. According to Deanandbritta.com, Night Nurse is England's answer to the cold remedy Nyquil. This song is awash with Deanisms such as "You are the splinter in my eye" (not quite sure how that could possibly be a pleasant sensation), and "My lips are lipped, my lid is flipped". Britta sings in pleasant counterpoint to Dean, something Luna fans have been experiencing with their interpretation of the Serge Gainsbourg/Bridget Bardot number, Bonnie and Clyde (which has become a live favorite) and Mermaid Eyes off of Romantica. Britta's voice is a sweet balance to Dean's wry and moody delivery.
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