In their self-titled debut, The Drovers mergetraditional Irish folk with vigorous, electricrock to create a harmonious yet hard-edgedinstrumentation. But the whining voices droningout barely incomprehensible lyrics undercut muchof the instrumental strength of the band.
In the few tunes with decipherable lyrics, TheDrovers offer pseudo-poetic exploration ofloneliness and lost love. "Love won't be the thingthat cures you...Love won't be the end of us...Ican't wait here always...Love..." wails leadsinger Dave Callahan in the characteristicallyuninsightful "Love Won't."
"Always always?" Perhaps the words are betterleft misunderstood.
If the lyrics and vocals don't grate on yournerves, the music almost redeems most of thesongs. The resonating, melan-choly wooden flutesolo in "When Fortune Turns" is especiallyhunting.
The traditional, rousing "Trad Reels," whichhas no words at all, is surely the highlight ofthe album. But if you're looking for tradition,why not go for the real thing?
Try The Chieftans or D'Danan if you want to getinto the Irish spirit this St. Patrick's Day. Orif you want rock with an Irish edge and reallyrics, try U2.
But until The Drovers find a new song-writerand a new singer, wish them "the luck of theIrish" and let them drone on. Phoebe Cushman
COCTEAU TWINS 10-CD Collection
Soporific, incomprehensible vocals and basictunelessness are not to everyone's taste. Thiswould appear to be bad news for the Cocteau Twins,as they have just released a ten-CD collection ofexactly that sort of music as a boxed set.
The Cocteau Twins are oddly named, consideringthat the groups is actually a threesome, andScottish at that. Elizabeth Fraser, the vocalist,actually started the group, and was soon joined bybassist Simon Raymond (who left after the releaseof the first album, Garlands) and guitaristRobin Guthrie.
The Cocteau Twins' music has evolveddramatically since their rather tentative firstalbum. The expressionless lyrics and dull backingwhich had irked many early listeners weregradually polished away, leaving the kind ofdelicate cacophony which makes the Cocteau Twinsso easily recognizable.
This collection traces the Twins' progress fromGarlands and Head Over Heels to the richemotional appeal of Treasure and Blue BellKnoll.
The Twins have been progressed to the pointwhere some of the songs from their latest album,Heaven or Las Vegas, are actually inEnglish that you can understand.
The listener will find that this is good musicfor a rainy day when you want to indulge thatmelancholy mood. It's great to study to as well,since you won't be distracted by the non-existentlyrics.
You certainly won't be able to dance to theCocteau Twins, though. Shiny, happy and boppy isjust not their style.
Don't expect to sing along with them, either.Much of their lyrics is in differentlanguages--some English here, some French there, aSpanish word or two thrown in. And even themultilinguist will have trouble figuring out whatthe words are.
For most people, the Cocteau Twins take somegetting used to. The flowery, psychedelic tones ofFraser's voice, and the moan of the instrumentalbacking are an acquired taste. (Some may say it'sa taste not worth acquiring.) In any case, itseems that only a very earnest Cocteau Twins fanwould want to buy a ten-CD collection of theirmusic. If taken in large doses, you'll find thatone so-called song will begin to sound very muchlike all the rest.