Jennifer Gentle - Valende

Ooooo, an Italian band…there’s a first for me. Will they be like old crooners singing “That’s Amore”? Um, well, I have to give that a succinct “no.” Try maniacally avant guarde instead. Valende, the band's third studio record, sounds like Ima Robot would on some very good hallucinogens. In other words, it’s very new and very current with a taste of Ummagumma-ish Pink Floyd. Or to further intellectualize it, German composer Kurt Weil’s wet dream. Now that you’re completely confused…or completely clear rather…oh nevermind. To be fair, I have to recommend that you not listen to Valende through headphones the first time out. The first two tracks can be a bit of a shock, particularly the sideshow calliope jingles of “I Do Dream You.” And Marco Fasolo’s vocals mimic some kind of insane emcee on a good number of the tracks. And yet, there is something quite engaging in Jennifer Gentle’s sound. It’s trippy; it can be exhausting. But either way, you can’t ignore it, and it can be breathtakingly lovely. I’m talking specifically of the dreamy “Circles of Sorrow” with its tinkling glockenspiel (yes, I said glockenspiel) and softly whispered vocals. This moves seamlessly into the gorgeous “The Garden (Part One).” Soft acoustic guitars and ethereal vocals leave you looking over your shoulder for fairies and fireflies. Absolutely lovely. How the band chose “Hessesopoa” as the next track is beyond me. It’s abrasive and cacophonous and not at all my cup of tea. It’s arty…in the worst way. And then you’re back on the mellow track with “The Garden (Part Two).” It’s baffling. Jennifer Gentle and Valende are an indescribable trip into insanity. It’s a fun place to visit, but you could be left scratching your head. Well, you’ve got to try everything once, don’t you? [www.jennifergentle.it]