There’s A Glamor In Being Pale

Rose Elinor Dougall “Start Stop Synchro” – When it was announced that Rose and Becki were leaving the Pipettes, many people were right to be skeptical about the future of that band. Sure, the group had been designed with a revolving door of lead vocalists in mind, but the two were crucial to the appeal of the band. Their personalities and style slightly tweaked the girl group dynamic, and kept the project in check by grounding it in contemporary indie music despite the over-the-top retro affectations. Rose was particularly magnetic and interesting. Of the three women, she had the most “indie” voice, and came across as the most fully formed character both in song and on stage — sassy and cool, but also a bit defensive and insecure despite being quite fabulous.

That apparent neurosis is foregrounded on Rose’s first solo track to be released to the public. With its slow beat, hazy tone and vaseline-lensed melancholy, “Start Stop Synchro” is a clear departure from her work with the Pipettes — if anything, it seems like a catchier, less ethereal version of Beach House. The arrangement is evocative, but decidedly brittle and understated, leaving Rose to carry much of the song in her vocal performance. She’s something of a revelation here — she’s essentially fighting back some substantial pain while attempting to keep a stoic, graceful demeanor. (Click here for Rose’s MySpace page.)

Allá “Una Dia Otra Noche” – This is an artist’s rendering of heaven on earth. It’s bliss and togetherness and absolutely perfect weather, now and forever. The string arrangement approximate the feeling of a perfect breeze on a warm day; the vocals are a harmony of contented sighs. It’s utopia, but for three minutes and six seconds. (Click here to buy it from Crammed.)