Isabelle Casier originates not far from where I write in French Flanders. However, it was in the Mediterranean port of Marseille that she found her musical feet, forming a rock trio, before going on to work with singer Francoiz Breut. Upon moving to Paris she released a solo acoustic EP called Cow-Boys under the name Pollyanna.
Guitarist David Lopez wasn’t far away from Isabelle’s Marseille. Living in Montpellier, he had already been busy experimenting with jazz, classical, contemporary, and rock guitar. In 2002 he met Isabelle and Pollyanna became a duo.
In 2004 they recorded their first album, Whatever They Say I’m A Princess, and gigged across Europe playing in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, and Denmark. They have even played New York, and Brooklyn and supported Wilco among others. Whilst on tour they worked on new material and the result is this, their excellent album, On Concrete (Waterhouse Records).
As every song unfolds, and each path is explored it becomes clear that this is a storybook to beautifully arranged and performed acoustic music. After a short intro Pollyanna launch straight into one of the albums highlights. The effect that “Chocolate Jesus”, a song of a relationship gone wrong, has is immediate. Anyone who can write a song like this deserves to be heard.
“Chocolate Jesus” is quite literally a bitter sweet song of a ghost of Christmas heartache. ‘I hate the sugar and sweets, Santa Claus’s biscuits and cinnamon treats’, sings Isabelle, in her beautifully emotive voice, over a gorgeous cello. “A Landscape” continues the feeling with more well written lyrics.
David’s guitar work throughout the album is smoothly efficient, often understated and yet cleverly complex. Isabelle possesses a haunting voice that is enriched by her lovely continental accent. It’s a wonderfully natural combination.
David opens “In The Cornfields” with a surprising splash of banjo. This is the song from which the album’s title On Concrete is taken and once it opens out introduces shades of Nirvana in the guitar. The ultra sad “Run” follows with a gentleness that belies another song of troubled relationships.
Article comments