Christina Rosenvinge - Frozen Pool

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label: Smells Like
Format: CD

intro

Born in Copenhagen, bred in Madrid, and championed in Latin America when she was half of the duo Alex Y Christina , Christina Rosenvinge now finds her talents relaunched on Sonic Youth's Smells Like R

Born in Copenhagen, bred in Madrid, and championed in Latin America when she was half of the duo Alex Y Christina , Christina Rosenvinge now finds her talents relaunched on Sonic Youth's Smells Like Records. 'Frozen Pool' is a mild, spring like album which features warm and gentle songs, just a few of which have a direct appeal. Most of 'Frozen Pool', however, has underlying qualities, and predominantly it combines tranquillity with fragile folk . Christina Rosenvinge has a beautiful voice, and on the first track she's the prey in 'Hunter's Lullaby' but the song's like a butterfly. The Hoboken-based trio Two Dollar Guitar are her backing band, and play some very fine lightweight pop. 'Frozen Pool' has a magnificently relaxed quality throughout. Occasionally Christina's slightly different diction brings Björk to mind, but there's none of the Icelander's fairytale eerieness. 'Frozen Pool' has 'grace' brandmarked throughout it. My favourite track is 'As The Wind Blows', a hauntingly beautiful ballad. Here Christina reminds me of Yo La Tengo's Georgia Hubley, singing equally purely, while guitarist Tim Folijahn's guitar lifts in a sort of flamenco fashion and the very subtle keyboards carry the track just like the wind. The song breathes longing ("solitude, solitude, my friend") but peacefully settles for redemption. A genuinely respectful cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Seems So Long Ago, Nancy' is the appropriate close to a flawless recording.

Track Listing:-