CD of The Week

One of the best concerts I saw in 2011 was Le Butcherettes at MilkBoy Philly. Frontwoman Teri Gender Bender (aka Teri Suarez) is an awesome, energetic frontwoman who ended up venturing into the crowd on more than one occasion. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta released their album on his own label and was part of the touring lineup at that show, playing bass. The pair have continued their collaboration, forming Bosnian Rainbows, along with Deantoni Parks on drums and Nicci Kasper on keyboards.

A true collaboration between all four members, Bosnian Rainbows craft something brand new on their eponymous, debut album. The prog rock guitar heroics of Rodriguez-Lopez only appear on the edges of some of their tunes, and Gender Bender shows a vocal range far beyond her wild, riot grrl shouting in Le Butcherettes. Siouxsie & The Banshees and Kate Bush appear to be her influences here.

The album is characterized by tracks like the spacey, atmospheric “Worthless,” with its big ‘80s-style drums production. Things kick up a notch with “Dig Right In Me,” with an appearance from Rodriguez-Lopez’s recognizable guitar work, and the moody, expansive “The Eye Fell in Love.” The single “Torn Maps” is easily the punchiest, most rockin’ song on the album, as many of the songs featuring hypnotic vibes over hooks, without veering too far out there or into self-indulgence. Other highlights of Bosnian Rainbows include the pulsing guitars of “Morning Sickness,” “Red” and the intense album closer “Mother, Father, Set Us Free.” The elegant, melodic “Turtle Neck” is perhaps the pinnacle of the record, with Rodriguez-Lopez singing backing harmonies behind Gender Bender’s lovely lead; then a few minutes in, the song speeds up takes a left turn into a quicker gear.

With a new Le Butcherettes album in the works and Rodriguez-Lopez constantly juggling multiple musical projects, who knows if Bosnian Rainbows will be a one-off album or something more. But it’s a rewarding, unique record from a talented group of artists. Bosnian Rainbows made their Philadelphia debut earlier this year at the First Unitarian Church, and will return on July 13th at Underground Arts.