DeVotchKa - How It Ends

June 18th, 2007 by JayJay

I’m not much of a soundtrack fan. I like movies, don’t get me wrong, but I usually can’t be bothered by listening to the music that was in a motion picture, just for being in it. There is the occasional exception, like the excellent 90s pop record accompanying teen flick Cruel Intentions, containing songs by The Verve, Skunk Anansie, Placebo and many other popular acts. Another example of a soundtrack I really do like is the one to Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain, composed by Yann Tiersen.

Why this introduction? Because DeVotchKa’s major claim to fame so far is being part of the soundrack to last years Academy Award-winning indie film hit Little Miss Sunshine. Opposed to Sufjan Stevens, which I noticed straight away, it took me over 6 months (read: until now) to find out DeVotchKa was the band responsible for the compelling opening tune to this movie (How It Ends), as well as some other songs (including You Love Me and Til The End Of Time).

And now, they landed a record deal with Anti to storm Europe by releasing their 2004 US breakthrough record How It Ends. Starting of gently with the forementioned You Love Me, the album really comes to live on the second track, the thriving and anthemic western-tune The Enemy Guns. From there, DeVotchKa sways from left to right, absorbing Eastern European, Mediterranean, South American and Mexican influences along the way and delivering a variety of rootsy rock songs and more traditional folk pieces. The 7-minute title track is a great example of a song that should never end.

But then, a little past the halfway point on the album, a slight feeling of confusion takes hold of me. There’s a lot of well-crafted and interesting pieces of music on this album, but all the different influences, languages, emotions and rhythms start feeling a little chaotic and incoherent. Luckily, Viens Avec Moi and Lunnaya Pogonka pull you right back into the vibrant melting-pot of violins, guitars, piano and trumpets, clearly pointing out there is no time for thoughts or feelings like mine. A short reprise gives you time to catch your breath from the journey around the world you just made.

With Gogol Bordello being one of the festival surprise acts of the past 12 months, agents should start looking out for DeVotchKa, as they just might be that next best (or even better) thing in folk-and-gypsy-punk-land.

Little Miss Sunshine teaser (with a sample of The Enemy Guns)

Another sample: DeVotchKa - You Love Me

The album will be available in Europe from the beginning of August.