May 20–27, 1999

disc quicks|rock/pop

Black Tape for a Blue Girl

As One Aflame Laid Bare By Desire

(Projekt)

After seven albums you'd think people would get it:Chicago's Black Tape for a Blue Girl is not a Goth band; at leastnot in the usual sense. Ambient electronic master Sam Rosenthaland his usual consorts, flautist Lisa Feuer, violinist Vicki Richards,cellist Mera Roberts, harpsichordist Nick Pagan and clarinetistMellinda Rosenthal, create ethereal chamber music. Like Dead CanDance, Black Tape for a Blue Girl dramatically flirts with symphonicdecay. The music is brightly lit and subtly melodic; forlorn chordsarch and bend, the drama giving way to auburn radiance. Lyricsare brief, flashed snapshots concentrating on desire's transitiveelements. Passages of chamber orchestration are held togetherby Rosenthal's ambient drone of electronic instrumentation, tapeloops and verbal rumblings. The reedy melodies are best heardbehind soprano Juliana Townes and Rosenthal's whispers. The onlydisappointing moments come when ham actor-vocalist Oscar Herraraspoon-feeds the grand moments with his patented brand of pork.Barring that overacting, Black Tape for a Blue Girl have reacheda perfect spot—a record where darkness and light play as one,where ethereal music and personal obsessions meet and mingle withpassion and dignity.

-a.d. amorosi

Black Tape for a Blue Girlplays Fri., May 21, The Trocadero, 10th and Arch Sts., 215-922-LIVE.