Rasputina
How We Quit the Forest
Columbia
Does it really get better than this? Three cello playing women who sing? Maybe if they wore corsets on stage. That’s exactly what you get in Rasputina. But if you think this is simply a gimmick band, forget it. This is really good stuff. Rasputina is all about harmony. The very basis of their sound with three cellos requires very intricate play so each cello is heard without simply becoming a caterwaul. The cello is an instrument with a very nice tonal range, and the women of Rasputina explore the screeching highs and rumbling lows of these noble stringed instruments. Mixed with this lush sound is the poetic lyrics and desperate vocal delivery of Melora Creager. Absolutely captivating. Columbia Records, 550 Madison Ave., 26th Floor, New York, NY 10022