Friday, February 12, 2010

Celluloid Bachelor #56: Nicole Simone "Melt"

OK, this is gonna be a analogistic stretch, but the beginning of the video makes me think of Cormac McCarthy's The Road, with its rural western wanderings and occasional romantic flashbacks, but trading in the cannibals for some Jessica Rabbit-style va-va-va-voom. Later, during the final 2/3 of the video, I'm struck with memories of watching on-demand "True Blood" episodes from my cold and bare old apartment in Cleveland Heights with the slinky meets southern charm. And, yes, the Jessica Rabbit name drop continues to resonate.

Even if you don't grant me the pop culture nods mentioned above, you'll surely acknowledge that Nicole Simone drips sexiness in a classic way as much as anyone in the indie scene today and that filmmaker Abazar Khayami integrates influences like Wim Wenders and Jean-Luc Godard in a way that provides a gulp-inducing counterpoint to Simone's aura.

For those bitten by the Simone bug, her debut EP drops March 9th via Crystal Ship Music. Expect equal parts Billie Holiday, David Lynch, Frederic Chopin, and Howlin' Wolf, as well as a helping hand on one track from screen star and musician Jason Schwartzman on banjo and drums.

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