Chateau Crone

iTunes Review

Describing the music of Austin’s Agent Ribbons leads one down a rabbit hole in search of the perfect fit: words like “minimalist baroque pop” and “neu-cabaret post-punk” are tempting but don’t quite work. Perhaps a genre mash-up is the only answer, considering the number of styles and vintages these three women filter through their music. With little more than stripped-down guitar and percussion, the occasional accordion or violin, and the impressive vocals of Natalie Gordon, Agent Ribbons evoke oppositional pairings: modern and baroque, decadence and innocence, simplicity and surprising complexity. There’s a bit of ‘60s surf-guitar swagger in opening track “I’m Alright,” along with a hint of Phil Spector in the shimmering tambourines and reverb (also on “Wallpaper of Skin”), but tracks like “Grey Gardens” and “Rubik’s Cube” have spooky, waltzing violin and rattling, ghostly percussion. The spirit of Kurt Weill permeates “Oh, La La!” and “I’ll Let You Be My Baby,” while the frantic violin and rollicking energy of “Wood, Lead, Rubber” is all Mekons post-punk energy. Chateau Crone is mind-melding, enchanting, and surprisingly rocking.