"****Abby Travis' new album "Glitter Mouth" is a beautiful and intriguing collection of mostly original songs by an artist who effortlessly combines new wave rock with the classic sensibilities of a Classical Hollywood chanteuse. Even with a cover of The Shangri-La's "Past, Present, and Future", and an updated version of Abby's own So Far Away from her previous album "Cut Throat Standards And Black Pop", Abby serves up a delectable blend of spicy yet sweet, bold but breathtaking, and does it all with her uniquely haunting vocals. Abby seems to channel the sultry and evocative Marlene Dietrich, but does so in her own inimitable style.
Abby has the uncanny ability to turn even the most complicated sounding lyric into a seamless and fluid vocalisation. For example, "I'm not condoning such whining and moaning, but still you gotta wonder sometimes when solitude's your only friend..." from her first track "Now Was" might just tongue-tie a less skillful vocalist, but Abby performs the line brilliantly and infuses the song with such poignancy and heartfelt honesty, and avoids sounding self-piteous because of the supreme intelligence of the lyrics.
"Grace" combines a serene main vocal with a more upbeat backing vocal which blends perfectly with the song, but "Blythe" is the most sparkling diamond on an album laden with gems. "Yet my love for you will never fade, like these past couple of months and the memories of mistakes we made, and my love for you will never fade, you took me somewhere where I wouldn't have dared, you saved me babe..." is a soaring refrain which would give even the stoniest heart a much needed jolt. It's impossible to listen to Abby Travis without feeling some emotion.
"Hunger" is a sultry song to start with, but turns into a fantastic rocker with the main chorus taking on a life all it's own. The guitars and bass lines make the surging energy of the song with its "insatiable thrust of the driest lusts' gale..." truly scorching.
"Shoot For The Stars" is a delightful "oom-pa-pa" flavoured song which will have you dancing or at least moving somehow - it's impossible to listen to this song and stay still. The groove just takes you on a "Red Shoes" inspired dance that will leave you wanting more.
"La Petite Mort" is another gem that sustains you with its love and a stunningly new wave musical composition that would work alone as a fantastic instrumental piece, but is thankfully blessed with Abby's divine vocal. "Chase Me" and "Roberto" are also beautiful ballads, but there is something special about "La Petite Mort" that makes it truly sublime.
"Past, Present, And Future" is a lovely and poetic spoken verse song that, if I hadn't alread known it was a Shangri-La's song, I would have swron it had come from Abby's own soul as she gives it a personal resonance that you don't often hear in covers, no matter how good they are. However, when Abby says to a former love "just don't try and touch me, because that will never happen again..." you can feel the pain and longing of a relationship now over, wanting more, but knowing that it is time to move on.
While I admittedly prefer Abby's "So Far Away" as it appeared on her previous album, the new version is quite compelling too, even with the uptempo sound and sound effects that might not give the newer version an instantly emotional appeal as the earlier version, but it's still pleasing.
For anyone who loves beautiful music with an edge, Abby Travis' "Glitter Mouth" will leave you with a desire for more, and a spirit lifted into the realms of the ethereal. Just try listening to the album and not feeling cleansed by its beauty, it isn't possible.****"
A seductive mix of pop, jazz, and alternative
E. Anderson | 04/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Abby Travis used to sing with the legendary industrial juggernaut KMFDM. It is hard to imagine her singing anything else that is not aligned with the band but after listening to "GlitterMouth", it is hard to believe she was in that band. "GlitterMouth" is an exact contrast to everything Abby has done with KMFDM. The music on "GlitterMouth" is a seductive blend of jazz and pop. Abby's smokey vocals reminded me a bit of both Marlene Dietrich and Sade. When I listen to the album, the music makes me feel like I am in a smokey jazz bar drinking a martini. Most of the songs are laid back but every now and then the pace of the song picks up like on "Hunger" which has a more rock sound. It is an ok song but not one of my favorite songs on the cd. I love the playful "Shoot for the Stars". The song sounds something you would hear at a circus with its brisk snare drums and the gentle hints of the wurlitzer playing in the background. I enjoy "GlitterMouth". This is a nice diversion from all the goth and industrial music I normally listen to, plus it is great to hear Abby Travis sing again but as a solo artist."
Glittermouth - Ab Trav is Ab Fab!
Skitch | 10/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"GlitterMouth
Having waited for what seemed an interminably long time to actually get some music, on CD, from Abby Travis - I was not disappointed. If, like me, you live in a small market town in semi-rural England, getting hold of anything, apart from chart music and awful compilation albums, is a task of almost Herculean proportions.
Anyway, gripe over...
I'd only recently managed to get hold of Abby's two previous albums: "Foundation" [blew my mind! - if it's possible for a CD to be worn out through continuous playing, then this one will be], "Cutthroat Standards and Black Pop" [ took some getting used to, this one, as I wasn't quite prepared for Gothic Cabaret but, like its predecessor, this one is excellent - especially with subsequent listening]...
Now we come to "Glittermouth":
This album confirms Abby as a (really) top rate singer, song-writer, musician and multi-instrumentalist. As a bass player, alone, Abby knows how to make this much maligned instrument sing and work for its living - she applies everything in the right order: rhythm, harmony, counterpoint and improvisation. Abby is my second favourite bass player ever (dear old iconic Jack Bruce, of the late sixties "power trio" [description applied with reverence, here] "Cream" will always be number one for me).
My favourite track is "Hunger" - which punches you in the stomach, slaps your face and yells "listen to Me, mere mortals"!
Oh - and the band of musicians that play with Abby on this album are top rate, as well; thought I'd just mention that.
All in all, this album is brilliant and well worth the wait. Vocabulary limits preclude any further comment without sounding sycophantic.
Much respect, Abby, keep independent. Can't wait for a new album!
Skitch"
All That Glitters Is Golden
William Lopez | Los Angeles, CA USA | 10/01/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"She might be the best singer you're not listening to, but Abby Travis deserves your attention. Her most recent album, 'Glittermouth' isn't exactly new. It was released last year, but since it's an indie effort in the truest sense, not nearly enough ears have heard it. There are some who might consider her music an acquired taste, considering it's mix of Cabaret and glam rock, but it's always well crafted, full of wit and considerable style.
The rock side of her musical personality is more muted here, with the exception of the spirited glam-funk workout, 'Hunger'. With it's breathy, come-hither intro, I must admit I was expecting a return to the dark glory of Cutthroat Songs, her previous album, but when the song kicks in, it's an exciting moment.
Unfortunately, the song's lyric doesn't quite match the music's intensity. Considering her gift with words it's one of the rare letdowns on the album. The other would be the romantic ballad 'Roberto'. It features a beautiful arrangement, and a sexy, alluring vocal, but the lyric feels unfinished. The remaining songs are among her best work.
With it's subtle, jazz inflected shifts, and self-mocking humor, 'Now Was' is one her finest songs. The gentle trip-hop of 'Grace' is cleansing and reassuring, even as the the song takes on the very elusiveness of the subject. 'Shoot For The Stars' is a joyous ride through the galaxy, and the somber lovelorn ballad 'Blythe' is gorgeous. The album's closer, 'Past, Present, Future' is a nod to original bad girls the Shangri-Las. The black humor of the lyric is a perfect fit for her deadpan delivery as she sings the twisted tale of love's damage.
Abby's advice is to shoot for the stars, and 'Glittermouth' is further proof that a star is what she deserves to be."
21st Century Gothic Cabaret
Susan G. Davis | Los Angeles | 05/18/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those of you who know Abby Travis only as a member of Elastica, The Love Dolls, KMFDM and The Bangles, Listen up!
This CD shows her surprising versatility in not only songwriting, This album draws on many sources and styles for its' inspiration.
Abby Travis as a pop Diva with her uniquely cool, steamy vocals and multi-instrumental prowess provide a refreshing and entertaining Twenty-First Century Gothic Cabaret that is all hers.
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1