Christina Courtin : 'Christina Courtin'
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Released: Out Now!!!
Label: Nonesuch Records
Christina Courtin takes a different approach to the female singer/songwriter genre, that much is clear on her debut self titled album. As to be expected there are acoustic guitars and bright melodies galore, more than enough to keep any fan satisfied. Yet she also infuses a much more dramatic element into her music, taking an epic and exploring other tangents. It certainly is interesting, that's for sure.
Courtin does the traditional acoustic genre very well indeed. With a slightly unusual yet enchanting voice she floats over simple melodies to great effect. Opener “Green Jay” showcases her voice with a chirpy melody and a challenging range, backed up with with creative instrumentation through percussion and guitar. Her voice takes some adjusting to, possessing a pure quality with a slightly husky edge. “Mulberries” sees it at it's wonderful best with only a piano for accompaniment, allowing Courtin to enchant and delight, while the desolate strings of “February” demonstrate an understated and haunting element.
Whilst it is clear that Courtin has a great vocal talent, it is not always used to great effect. Arguably at best in an understated fashion, “Bundah” sees Courtin attempt the upper reaches of her range with mixed results, her voice becoming slightly piercing and stretched towards the end. Courtin even departs entirely from the acoustic are with “Laconia”, a strange, almost progressive track. Vocals are almost spoken over dreary chords and lethargic drumming, culminating in a screeching conclusion that is almost unlistenable. With such an effective voice it is puzzling as to why Courtin would pursue such a direction, especially seeing as it simply does not work.
Sticking with the a more traditional approach is undoubtedly where the singer is at her best. Current single “Foreign Country” provides a jolly melody for Courtin to flutter effortlessly from note to note, clearly enjoying herself in the process. It's light hearted rhythm and gentle guitar charm from the start, combining with the vocals to become a undoubtedly a stand out track on the album. A twinkling piano and acoustic guitar sees “Hedonistic Paradise” confirm that minimalism is best for Courtin, as she steals the track with an effortless performance with some delightful backing vocals as help.
There is great potential in Christina Courtin the woman, yet it only manages to transmit in waves into Christina Courtin the album. With such a unique voice and an obvious talent, the temptation to flirt with a more dramatic and complex approach must be avoided in the future for the singer to have full effect. Whilst the occasional foray in other directions doesn't spoil the album entirely, it transforms what could have been a highly successful acoustic album into a somewhat hit and miss affair.
Words: Dan Grose
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