Rose Melberg
Cast Away the Clouds
(Double Agent Records)
Release date April 25
Bio: Straight out of a Sacramento high school, Rose Melberg entered the indie-pop 7-inch scene in 1992 with her first of many successful bands, Tiger Trap. Crunchy guitars and punk attitudes couldn't hide Rose's velvet voice and painfully honest lyrics, and the all-girl foursome quickly became stars of a burgeoning indie-pop/punk movement centered around Olympia, WA and record labels like K and Kill Rock Stars. Too good to last, Tiger Trap split after their second US tour, leaving just one classic album and an EP on K Records. Wondrously prolific, Rose quickly teamed with uber-fan Jen Sbragia to form The Softies, possibly her best-known project. With just two guitars and two angelic voices, The Softies debuted with a 7" and mini-LP on the wonderful Slumberland Records, toured the US 5 times (once with Elliott Smith) and released 3 amazing albums and singles, also on K Records from 1994-2001. At the same time, Rose somehow managed to front Go Sailor who collected their sold-out and sought-after pop singles on Look Out Records in 1997, and had two songs featured in the campy film, "But I'm A Cheerleader". Never stopping, Rose also played drums on two albums with Gaze and recorded various duets and solo tracks while on tour. Those stray tracks were compiled on "Portola" released by Double Agent Records in 1998. All-Music Guide gave it 4 stars and declared "Even in light of the uniform brilliance of Rose Melberg's past work with Tiger Trap and the Softies, her solo debut is still revelatory -- never before has her voice been so disarmingly honest and vulnerable... 'Portola' is a small miracle."
That was then, but this is now. I've had this album on repeat for the last 48 hours -- appreciating it more each time. Her vocals are delicate and the music subtle, but never boring. It is deeply personal and shows the emotional depth of a true artist. Rose has matured and honed her skills having written all of the songs on Cast Away the Clouds. Think of her as a kindred spirit of Nick Drake with some more lilting moments. Rose sings, plays guitar, piano, flute, drums, and ukelele (but don't think Tiny Tim) on the album. There are brief guest appearances by Nick Krgovich (piano and vocals), and Saundra Humphry (violin on "The Orchard"). The album touches on love, longing, lethargy, and forgiveness. But ultimately looks toward the future hopefully. The art she has created conveys that true strength comes from vulnerability. It is therefore not depressing, but rather inspiring.
You may listen to her song "Take Some Time" on her record label's website:
http://www.doubleagentrecords.com/rose/
Tour Dates:
Sun, April 23
Seattle, WA @ Velouria
2205 N.W. Market Street
4pm, all ages
Tues, April 25
New York, NY @ Cake Shop
152 Ludlow Street
w/ Jennifer O'Conner, 8pm, 21+
Wed, April 26
Brooklyn, NY @ Magnetic Field
97 Atlantic Avenue
w/ Graham Smith, 8pm, 21+
Linear Mode
