Religious to Damn - Glass Prayer

by Andrew Carver

published: 29 / 1 / 2011

Label: M' Lady Recordings
Format: CD

Seductive debut album from Religious to Damn, the project of New York-based and spooky-voiced Afghan-American singer-songwriter Zohra Atosh

Review

New York’s Religious to Damn is centred on Afghan-American singer Zohra Atosh. Atosh follows in the steps of a number of witchy female singer -songwriters, such as Buffy Ste. Marie, (early) Cher, Jarboe (for whom she’s subbed on tour with A Storm of Light) and Stevie Nicks. By the time the listener, however, reaches the title track - just a few songs in - the performer whose influence seems most inescapable, both in music and voice, is Kate Bush. The similarity is so uncanny you’ll either be wondering if Atosh’s parents came from Bexleyheath instead of Afghanistan or scrutinizing the credits for guest vocalists. If one can absorb that without complaint (or succumbing to an urge to listen to the ouevre of Bush instead) then ‘Glass Prayer’ offers a few pleasures for fans of arty, vaguely ethnic music. Chit-chat about Religious to Damn being part of a wave of ‘gypsy rock’ and ‘eastern influences’ is probably best ignored. Atosh certainly looks the part. The band’s music is definitely more in the vein of 'Tusk'-era Fleetwood Mac than combos like Gogol Bordello. With Atosh’s seductive coo and harmonium leading the way, a certain similarity to Damon and Naomi’s music is also in evidence. With all the fuzzy lo-fi and willfully warped combos out there, it’s refreshing to hear something well-sung and well-played, with a variety of sonic textures. Music lovers seeking a performer pitched somewhere between the Cocteau Twins and Laura Nyro could do much worse.