Brothersister

2008 LP The Wunder Tales

Reviewed by Steve Davenport

13 March 2008

Siblings Dante and Xavia Nou - also known as BrotherSister - are cultured purveyors of textured, psychedelic electronica. Their self-produced sophomore recording "The Wunder Tales" is full of enigmatic, slow-to-surface charm. This is a couple who convert almost any space into a studio, collaborate by sending files across oceans and produce lavish, processed arrangements with whatever instrument happens to be around. The result is quite magical.

Like painters, BrotherSister inhabit conceptual space with wild brush strokes, broad smears and highlights of finesse while the overall sound comes across like a water colour running in the rain. Each of the eleven songs has a distinctive quality that stands on its own. There are erotic textures, deep sonic dimensions, swooning sound-scapes and swirling, abstract styles - like graphic-design elements put to music. All these individual elements unify to make a greater holistic whole.

There's musical invention here and a great deal of ambition. Bu there's also over-ambition and self-indulgence. Although "The Wunder Tales" is, erratically excellent it's also frustratingly blighted by the siblings' attempt to go beyond their vocal capabilities. Given BrotherSister's tender years, it's not yet ready to produce an album of sufficient depth to match its drive, prodigious talent and obvious aspirations.

However, that's easily forgiven with this collection of music that's as intriguing as its creators. There's no doubt that Dante and Xavia would benefit from the 'right' producer. Despite that they've created a beautiful, thematically eccentric but truly immersive album. The sounds may not be particularly original but they are challenging and there are enough positive signs here to bode extremely well for the future.

"The Wunder Tales" may be too opaque to break through to a wide audience but it strongly hints that perhaps BrotherSister's greatest moments are indeed yet to come. This is a band that's destined to grow and grow.

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