Eleni Mandell with guest Daniel Martin Moore
The Cedar welcomes back indie pop-folksinger Eleni Mandell, this time with a full band, showcasing the followup to her breakthrough CD Miracle of Five: Artificial Fire, due to hit the stores Feb 17 2009 from Zedtone Records. Artificial Fire builds on the success of Miracle Of Five, adding a more direct, full-band sound to Mandell's sharp-edged tales of romance, lust and love. 'I want people to hear this record and have fun, more of a good time.' That's Eleni's reason for cranking up the guitars and the tempos on a number of the tracks, such as album highlight Bigger Burn. With its surf-inspired guitar leads and a rollicking, jumping backbeat, it is a perfect example of the vibrant side of Artificial Fire. The musical range displayed on Artificial Fire will not astonish anyone familiar with Mandell’s back catalog. There are moments of AM radio bliss buoyed by golden brass (The Right Side), a rolling bank of atmospheric “space fog” (I Love Planet Earth), and even touches of ‘60s mysticism (God Is Love). Spirited rockers abound, from the spiky title tune right up to the explosive kiss-off (Cracked) that closes the program. The Inner Teenager that Mandell seems to have rediscovered, and her memories of a first kiss permeate It Wasn’t The Time (It Was the Color), while a more mature, flirtatious Mandell surfaces on In The Doorway and the seductive slow dance Tiny Waist.
All the songs on Artificial Fire were written by Mandell, but arranged, recorded and produced with her longtime band, allowing the group's cohesiveness and musical acumen to shape the tracks while Mandell's articulate lyrics hold center stage.
Opening tonight will be Sub Pop recording artist, Kentuckian singer-songwriter Daniel Martin Moore
Tickets are on sale now from Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb.
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In January 2007, after a stint in the Peace Corps, singer-songwriter Daniel Martin Moore decided to make a bold move in his music career by sending his unsolicited demo to Sub Pop Records. The label, once the home of all things grunge, has explored its softer...
Eleni Mandell, a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, California, often cites Tom Waits and X as her biggest influences. Mandell self-released her Jon Brion-produced debut album Wishbone in 1998. Thrill followed in 2000 on Zedtone Records - the label that...
