The Casket Girls – The Piano Album

The Languid Sound of The Casket Girls

The Casket Girls, from Savannah, Georgia, recently released a new album that highlights the band’s talent for creating slow and melancholic music. Much in the style of Fever Ray and CocoRosie, this record combines the sounds of truly eerie melodies and classical music that so many freak-folk bands and musicians utilize when they create their music.

The record begins with a two-minute song that features solely the piano. It is a slow introduction to the album, but an acceptable one, as this is quite literally titled The Piano Album. Apart from two of the songs, the record only has one instrument. If one is thinking it is the piano, that is correct.

While the music does sound charming, the unvaried piano playing leaves the listener with a somewhat disappointed view and the desire that the band alter their music so that each song sounds different from the next.

There are two songs, however, that do not just promote the piano and they are “Nightlife” and “I Talked to God.” They contain the sound of drums that repetitively beat in the distance and sound more like TV static than actual percussion.

The most exceptional part of this album is the vocals. The lyrics are not incredibly intellectual and tend to be repetitive, but the harmonies between the two singers Elsa and Phaedra, combine and produce a calming sound. Every song on this record contains these well-coupled and balanced voices. Their singing merges and leaves shadows of their sound throughout the course of the songs.

At the end, the piano and the light beats all paired with the harmonizing vocals of the two singers leave one feeling tranquil and drowsy. Overall, this record is worth a listen, but if the listener has not fallen asleep, it is better to explore the other albums in The Casket Girls’ discography.