Ideal Home Noises. Vera Ellen

With Ideal Home Noises Vera Ellen shares no less then thirteen of them with the world. Her new album holds a wide range of styles that diverge quite far from the basic alternative slacker rock that Courtney Barnett set the standard for in the previous decade. On this album Vera Ellen uses it as a starting point and then takes the listener on an ever more interesting musical adventure.

With her debut album, 'It's your Birthday', that did not make it to this blog, she won several prizes in her home country New Zealand. It looks like I will have to do a revisit, because at the time I didn't hear much in it. This changed with the first singles coming from what was to become Ideal Home Noises. Each single went down better it seemed.

With 'Imposter' the album opens with an electronic rhythm, that remains in place for the whole song. The staccato rhythm sets a pace dragging the listener into the album. "This isn't mine and this isn't my best, not at all", Vera Ellen sings in 'Imposter'. She's not happy with who she is and shouts it off the platform her record provides. The best songs come from unhappiness and if Ellen shows anything on Ideal Home Noises, it is the best songs she's capable of at this stage of her career.

'Homewrecker' is classic Courtney. The song slouches and yet has a spine. Played a little louder, it could have been a song on 'Eight Arms To Hold You', Veruca Salt's master piece from the mid 90s. The New Zealand accent comes through nicely in 'Homewrecker', giving the song even more authenticity. No matter how elementary the music is, guitar, bass, drums, it works for 100%.

'Smell Of An Oily Rag' has that bittersweet vibe that the best songs of The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las had. Had they made records today, who knows, they may have sounded like this (although I'm afraid their producers would have gone for a Beyoncé or Pink clone). The first pop elements are let into the sound of Ideal Home Noises.

When as a listener you move further through the album, you find how wide Vera Ellen spreads her wings. She keeps things as small as her fellow country artist Aldous Harding is good at, but also moves into ballad territory and sets a new standard for herself. In 'Carpenter' both come together, with an alternative twist at the end, making the song even more exciting. 'Carpenter' is a showcase of a song showing how mature Vera Ellen is as a songwriter. The song grows and grows with each listen.

Four songs into the album, I am about to let you alone with it. It is extremely worthwhile to get acquainted, be surprised and give it the time to grow. Vera Ellen has set tremendous strides, assisted by producer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Lemi. Together they've made the best album coming from Down Under so far this year, and that tells you something, if you follow this blog.

I am not one for quoting bio's or even reading them sometimes. This time is different. Allow me to quote Vera Ellen's Bandcamp page:

"In a very personal statement about Ideal Home Noise, Vera Ellen has summarised “My songs have been my friends, my lovers, my enemies. I have been their biggest critic and fan and they have been mine. And as for this album, you will hear my pain up close, but you can take comfort knowing I wouldn't trade it for the world..."".

She struggled with herself, the world, her music and came out winning. Hugely!

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Ideal Home Noises here:

https://veraellen.bandcamp.com/album/ideal-home-noise