Noah's Ark (album)

Background

Bianca and Sierra Casady are the sister act behind CocoRosie, whose name originates from the nicknames given by their mother; "Coco" (Bianca) and "Rosie" (Sierra). The sisters spent their childhood years living throughout the Southwestern United States and Hawaii. They developed an interest in music at an early age and enjoyed making up songs as children. Collectively, the sisters have a vast background. Bianca, who worked as a model at one time, sang and wrote songs. Sierra, who once wanted to go into the Army, pursued classical opera throughout high school.

Although there is only a 2-year age difference between them, the sisters were not close as children. After many years apart, Bianca joined Sierra in Paris in 2003. It was at this time that the sisters came together to form CocoRosie and create music, referred to by some as, "freak folk". Their first album, La Maison de Mon Reve, was created in an apartment in Paris and released in 2004 on Touch and Go Records.

Recording

The album features both sisters on vocals with more traditional instruments such as guitars and harps layered over a multitude of unconventional items cast in the role of instruments. The song, "Bear Hides and Buffalo" for example, includes a loop of horses neighing and cats meowing over a toy piano hook. Upon the release of Noah’s Ark, Bianca described the group’s sound as "sort of an eclectic montage," saying, "[w]e float around between a few different instruments and use a bunch of unconventional percussion things. Like toys."

The album was compiled in many different locations as the sisters traveled in the wake of their previous album. The pursuit of intimate venues lead to, as Sierra put it, "pulling over on the side of the road and just recording in a field, or taking a moment in a barn in the South of France, or a studio in Brooklyn."

Collaborations

The album features contributions from a variety of other musicians. Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons provides vocals and plays piano on "Beautiful Boyz", an ode to French novelist, playwright, and convicted felon Jean Genet, while Devendra Banhart lends his singing voice (via phone) to "Brazilian Sun". The opening rhymes of "Bisounours" come courtesy of French rapper Spleen.

The album also lists Greg Rogove, Diane Cluck, Jana Hunter and Ardzen as "contributing artists."

Reception

Noah’s Ark was well received by critics domestically and internationally. MusicOMH London writer Michael Hubbard wrote, "Noah's Ark has a dreamlike quality to it." Sarah Peters, a former music editor and staff writer for LAS wrote, "Symbolically, the guiding light is important to all who have journeyed on Noah's Ark, and CocoRosie have presented a lesson in love, through hardship, that may not have been as powerful otherwise." In comparison to the sisters' previous work, writer Johnny Ray Huston of the San Francisco Bay Guardian noted, "Their new album, Noah's Ark (Touch and Go), has a more restless feel than their debut – the scratchy, tiny, Victrola-sounding vocals of La Maison sometimes give way to a more naturalistic recording style." Another review came from Heather Phares, writer for allmusic, who commented on the album’s vibe in particular. "There's a lot of power in the album's darkness, particularly on the apocalyptic campfire singalong "Armageddon""

Although some of the album's reviews were positive, some critics disagreed claiming, "Noah's Ark is more hypnotic and infiltrating than their enchanting (but short shelf-lived) debut, Le Maison de Mon Reve, but ultimately less magical." Other viewpoints were expressed about the contributing artists on the album and how "…the best offerings inevitably arrive in the presence of Antony and Devendra Banhart, whose guest appearances enhance and possibly upstage their lovely hosts."

Track listing

1. "K-Hole" – 4:10
2. "Beautiful Boyz" – 4:37
3. "South 2nd" – 4:09
4. "Bear Hides and Buffalo" – 4:14
5. "Tekno Love Song" – 3:54
6. "The Sea Is Calm" – 3:39
7. "Noah's Ark" – 4:13
8. "Milk" – 0:34
9. "Armageddon" – 4:04
10. "Brazilian Sun" – 4:38
11. "Bisounours" – 4:06
12. "Honey or Tar" – 2:08
13. "Oh Sailor – 3:50 (Bonus Track Australian CD)