It is becoming a sort of a rule, instead of continuing to be an exception – so many artists try to defy strict rules of a certain genre (often designed by music critics) and try to keep the music borders not only open, but non-existent. The problem that can arise there is the inventiveness of the artist or artists and their ability to create something that has a musical substance, rather than losing themselves in variety or trying to overthink things.
One of such musical chameleons as they are often dubbed is Philadelphia via New York artist Alice Cohen, as has been amply shown by her work so far, which often reads as a short history of alternative music – as her PR blurb says “from the genesis of MTV and new wave to 2000s Brooklyn hypnagogic pop”.
In that respect, on her latest album, Archaeology, Cohen keeps that concept intact, but the album itself just might be her most consistent work so far. While there are traces of often elusive and eclectic artists like Laura Nyro and Kate Bush, there is also a presence of jazzier influences (slice Coltrane, for example), particularly in the instrumental tracks that Cohen features here. Nothing surprising in the latter, as both of her parents were jazz musicians.
Yet, like it all might sound like a bit of a strange mix, but it turns out that Cohen was able to turn all the varied influences, or rather varied ideas, into a very cohesive whole.
