Search - Britta Phillips, Dean Wareham :: L'Avventura

Music For Getting Friendly

Pop Kulcher | San Carlos, CA USA | 07/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pop Kulcher Review: This is a spin-off of sorts, featuring Luna frontman Dean Wareham sharing vocal chores with Luna bassist Britta Phillips. Not surprisingly, since it comes from half of Luna, it sounds like -- well, half of Luna. Whereas Luna (at least on the last few albums) has been largely divided between spacey, VU-esque psychedelic drones and French-lounge romantic ballads, Wareham & Phillips forego the former elements and go entirely with the latter. To put it a bit more bluntly, this is sex music. Unabashed, charming, music for getting busy. After a few spins, I haven't really come up with any particular tracks I found memorable or single-worthy (even the worst Luna albums have a handful of truly catchy ditties) -- though the two tracks featuring both Dean & Britta trading vocals stand out a bit -- and a few of these are unnecessarily dull. But listened to as a whole, it really does make you want to break out the candles and get friendly. Dean lets Britta share the vocal duties with him, and her sensually sweet pipes (sadly underutilized as backing vox on Luna's albums) compliment his distinctive nasal-drony lilt nicely. Not an essential part of the Luna canon, and, like their last few long-players, makes me long for the crackling-guitar sound of their earlier work. But it stands up fairly well on its own, and will appeal to Luna fans and horny people generally."

Some really beautiful stuff here

Joseph Sullivan | Brooklyn, NY | 06/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's not a bad song on here. That said, there are definitely some highlights. My favorites, after about 10 listens, are the Buffy St. Marie cover, "Moonshot," and the Opal cover "Hear the Wind Blow." These two really stand out and are just really beautiful. "Moonshot" is downright inspiring to me. I also really enjoy the mystery of "Knives from Bavaria," and "Night Nurse" is a great opener. When I read the pre-press about what Dean and Britta would be covering, I could not believe they'd chosen "Indian Summer" to be included--it may be the most beautiful of any songs the Doors ever recorded. I can remember listening to that song repeatedly as a junior in high school and feeling that I was in love for the first time. Here, it's obviously not the same, 'cause Dean just doesn't have the depth of Morrison's voice, or the sort of drug and alcohol-induced detachment, I'd say, but it's still good. In keeping with the Doors' original, it still sounds ceremonial with the maracas and the subtle wall of sound at the chorus."Random Rules" is one of my favorite songs off American Water by the Silver Jews, and this song was another reason I had to pick up this album. Just to hear how Dean would do it. At first, I missed the trumpet from the original, but I got over it. This version's a bit more laid back than Dave Berman's, and Dean's definitely put his own spin on it in that way. There's just not the same desperation as in the original. Or the dryness.Luna fans will probably like this album. Although some people are saying it's a progression from Romantica, it is definitely not a Luna album. Tony Visconti's strings are prominent on several tracks, there's not the level of guitar involvement Dean would normally enlist from himself and Sean Eden, and Britta's role is enlarged here. She sings on several of the tracks and contributes original compositions for "Out Walking" and "Your Baby." I have to admit, at first, these songs disturbed me slightly, and I don't know why. Maybe because of the layers of production? I don't know. They're not bad songs. Just kind of reminded me of a sweeter version of Hope Sandoval's latest work. It's probably just that candy syrup sweetness that got me and turned me on my ear."

Stylus Magazine review - 7.3

Gentry | Bloomington, MN United States | 06/13/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

""L'Avventura is a soundtrack to get lucky to, a record to fall in love with, filled with songs of infatuation, desire, addiction, regret and bliss." In the summer I often wake up early in the morning, have a big bowl of Wheaties and orange juice, throw on some shorts and a tee, and hop on my bike with backpack around my shoulders. There is a small preservation with biking and walking trails around a lake some miles away that is absolutely breathtaking in the spring and summer months with its abundance of vibrant foliage. I specifically remember listening to God is My Co-Pilot's I Am Not This Body on one memorable trek from last summer. Not what you would consider a typical "summer" album, but nevertheless, it still conjures up affections from that early morning. A more appropriate soundtrack to this year's dog day roving is Luna frontman Dean Wareham, and newly acquired (2000) bassist Britta Phillips' collaboration album L'Avventura (Italian for The Adventure). Comprised of covers, duets, and originals penned by both artists, L'Avventura fails to live up to expectations set by Wareham and Phillips' pairing on "Mermaid Eyes" from Luna's 2002 Romantica album. Despite its billing as a duet album, you wouldn't able to tell it from track three on. Producer Tony Visconti's (T.Rex., David Bowie) dreamy string arrangement opens the duet "Night Nurse" which features Wareham making love-letter proclamations to Phillips ("You make the ice melt / The butter run / You make the ink stain / You are the one") who reciprocates with affirmation ("I am the night nurse / I am the most / I am the visitor / You are the host") -- there is beauty in its sappiness. The other duet, "Ginger Snaps," with its pseudo-disco beat and self-described "dirty fake strings" is replete with Wareham's notoriously goofy lyrics: "When the cowboy sings / When the Saturn rings / When the ginger snaps / When the thunder claps / You can cut my hair / You can fill my cup / You can tell me lies / You can make it up." Sadly, the duets, and best tunes of the record, end there. Of the covers, indigenous folksinger Buffy St. Marie's "Moonshot" (a nice obscure choice) fits best with Wareham's lyrical prose: it could be easily mistaken for one of his own (which I'm sure it has when performed live). The somewhat bizarre lyrics of a departed loved one and an abducted-by-angels anthropologist are aided by Visconti and Britta's otherworldly string arrangement. Madonna's ballad, "I Deserve It" off of her Music album stands out with its upbeat, straightforward guitar reworking and natural lyrics. The Opal (prepubescent, sans-Hope Sandoval Mazzy Star band) cover "Hear the Wind Blow" ends up sounding a bit too similar to the original, maintaining the hollow production and tambourine but is partly saved by yet another wonderful string arrangement (again provided by Visconti). Phillips' solo original, "Your Baby," is a drowsy number with her declaring, in her best Sandoval impression, "I just want to stay sleeping / In your love." The most outstanding non-duet original, though, is the Wareham penned, Phillips sung, "Knives from Bavaria." The slightly haunting love song has Phillips murmuring from a barren well "Come here and brush me / Divide me in two / Drink me and drown me / I like you / I do." The chippy "la la" chorus adds to the songs ethereality. Although it contains two blessed duets, some quality covers, and a superior original, I can only think of how an album bursting with "Night Nurse" and "Ginger Snaps"-like duets would have fared. It could have been much more, but for what it is -- a blissful summer excursion -- L' Avventura is delicately delightful."