Coco Rosie 19th May 2004 @Spitz
Great venue for these sisters to weave their magic. I'd been digging the album after a friend put a song on a compilation for me. Said friend wasn't interested in them by the time of the gig which must be a record for the undulating fickle nature of music taste.
It becomes clear he's missed out from the moment they take the stage with an air of eccentric innocence that compels you to look. The older Rosie plucks a harp and they have a lo-fi beat boxer instead of drums. The combination is a master stroke, grabbing the attention of the beguiled audience immediately. It appears there's sibling rivalry on display over weird instrumentation. I'm partially unsighted as to what the younger Coco is doing, but I'm told later her sounds came out of assorted toys including an owl and a miniature trumpet. The award would have to go to her, but that's not to detract from Rosie who busies herself with the more traditional guitar/keyboard thing.
They play nearly all the album including 'Good Friday' with its haunting refrain,
I believe in St. Nicholas. You can hear their classically trained background but it is their harmonising that floors you, effortlessly overlapping the phrase around each others vocals. In-between songs they all smile sheepishly and whisper their gratitude. They loop a phone ringing throughout the pauses, and it creates a domesticated vibe. Are we in the Parisian flat where they do their recording?
They end the main set with the sublime 'By Your Side', then after much pleading return for a final number, leading to the only flaw in an hour of bewitchment. Mister Lo Fi Beat Boxer gets an out-of-context solo rap spot, like MC Solaar (it's in French) backed by a female Delta Blues outfit. I let him off though as he had great discipline and restraint previously. The crowd, however, are cheering him on until long after. Who am I to argue?
