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Reviews

Amy Denio — Eureka
(Spoot Music no#, 2019, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2019-12-31

Eureka Cover art

Amy Denio is a musical (as well as linguistic) polyglot. Her music has taken her around the world, with frequent trips to Eastern Europe, and she has absorbed language and culture deep into her psyche. Eureka is her most diverse solo release yet, a collection of 18 songs sung in a variety of languages with instrumentation and vocals mostly by Denio herself. Quite a few of the tracks have a strong Balkan influence (“Pozdravko Kolo,” “Petoljubac,” “Sretan Ruže Dan,” and so on), featuring accordion, clarinet, saxophone, and stringed instruments including her beloved brač. Other instruments include guitars, bass, and glockenspiel, and the arrangements are never overdone. A few tracks feature percussion, both natural and electronic. Aside from the Balkan flavor, hints of Celtic folk music show up, with “The Meeting of Foes” and “The Artist Meets the Mountain Man” sounding a bit like Irish folk dance music. The overall impression is friendly and accessible, whether the mood is melancholy or cheerful. She has the knack of creating music that is sophisticated, experimental, and artistic but is readily understandable without sounding like watered-down pop. When the lyrics are in English, they’re often whimsical, as on “I Want All Beer Cheez,” “Mercury in Retrograde,” “Venus Envy,” and “Stickney the Crater,” which tells the story of how the Phobos crater got its name and has a surprising connection to Denio’s family. Amy Denio manages to do an impressive job at every musical task she attempts, and Eureka is another winning addition to her extensive discography.

Filed under: New releases, 2019 releases

Related artist(s): Amy Denio

More info
http://amydenio.bandcamp.com/album/amy-denio-eureka

 

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