RECORD REVIEW: Ashley Paul “Alone Together #2: Hidden Face / Leave Mine” (Emerald Cocoon)

http://www.emeraldcocoon.com/present.html

                When I first began listening to this record by Ashley Paul, I will admit that my interest was piqued.  By the end of this, however, I had to admit that I was full on ready to track down Ashley Paul’s entire discography and listen to it—and the amazing part is that this is only two songs.  That was all it took to convince me!

                The first of the two songs begins with some high pitched screeching noises, perhaps to ward off the fake listeners.    Low bass then comes in, followed by strings and piano and this just becomes a beautiful mess.   There is singing, it can be out of tune on the whole sometimes and often times it is just so ear piercingly sharp that it might drive dogs crazy.

                “Leave Mine”, the song that really got to me, has a tropical island slide feel to it before the reverb hum kicks in and the vocals once again return.   It would be so easy to say, “Oh, here’s another female first name and last name that sounds like this other female first name and last name”, but this just simply cannot be done with Ashley Paul.

                This music is unique.  It is poignant.   It is art in its truest sense of the word.  It takes all the preconceived notions you have about what music should be and throws them back in your face.  And you are thankful for this.