Like many I first encounter Revue Noir on the seminal "Projekt Presents: A Dark Cabaret" compilation released back in 2005. This compilation and the Revue Noir song ("Sometimes, Sunshine") had a huge influence on us.
If dark cabaret chanteuse Nicki Jaine and darkwave godfather Sam Rosenthal could see the commonalities in their music we realized that we weren't crazy for seeing Sepiachord everywhere we looked. As such it was time we quit chatting about it amongst ourselves and set out to chat about it with the world.
But enough about us...
A few years ago the pairing of Nicki and Sam would have struck some folks as odd. One comes from an "organic" background owing much to the cabaret of Weimar germany, the other a master of ambient and ethereal music (based primarily on electronics). But as the five "Released" tracks on this "Anthology Archive" testify Revue Noir was a perfect meeting of like minded individuals.
Nicki Jaine is in the forefront here, the emphasis remains on her striking and seductive voice and her skilled piano playing. His years working in his own group, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, and producing other artists have given Rosenthal the instinct and tools to accent and accentuate other musicians. Often "super-groups" end up falling flat, but not Revue Noir. Sam adds a richness and complexity to Nicki's performance with out metamorphosizing her into something she isn't, something forced and artificial.
The duo exhibit a naturalness that usually comes from musicians who've worked together for years. Each of the Released songs (one from the afore mention "A Dark Cabaret" CD, three from the Revue Noir single and one from a David Bowie tribute) is a fully realized and well rounded composition. The end results sparkle darkly, these songs are such a wonderful blend of gloom, humor and theatricality that they are more "goth" than most bands that choose to stand under that musical umbrella.
It's a shame then that this project didn't last. To appease those who've wanted more Rosenthal and Jaine have prepared this CD: "Anthology Archive". It starts off with the five released tracks and then backs them up with eight unreleased songs.
The rehearsal version of "A Girl, A Smoke" is only of moderate interest as a demo of the released track, but the rest of songs all deserve close listens. There are four "new" studio songs and they're fine additions to the previously available tracks, though it's clear that the group picked the right songs for official release. These lost numbers could've been assembled with the first five tracks and been put out as a Revue Noir full length. But it's the three live tracks that occupy my mind the most.
The cover of the Velvet Underground's "All Tomorrow's Parties" is incredible. It's a perfect match for the band who bring the appropriate sexiness and longing to the piece. It may actually be better than their cover of "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide".
The other two live songs are frustrating. Both their version of "Alabama Song" and the Rosenthal composition "Halo Star" show so much promise, so much potential that I can't help but wonder what could have been. There's so much talent here and they seemed to be both sharing the same vision that it's disappointing that Revue Noir never got a chance to fulfill the possibilities of these two songs.
A thought on the cover: I love the cover to this CD. The simple graphics are sharp, the almost black and white palette fits with the music. But it's the fact that Nicki's mouth is obscured that I find so remarkable. The viewer can't tell if she's smiling, pouting or frowning. The subtraction of this facial feature focuses the viewer on her intense eyes and gives her an almost alien appearance.
All in all "Anthology Archive" is a charming collection of songs that deserves to finally see the light of day and is a "must have" for any dark cabaret fans.
