Me Oh My

Hard Times to Fall in Love

     

After first hearing of Cate Le Bon at SXSW it drove me nuts trying to figure out who she reminded me of musically. After downloading 'Me Oh My' it hit me - Nico!! It's not simply Le Bon's voice that conjures up the Nico reference, the melancholy, lazy and melodic guitar in songs like 'Sad, Sad Feet' and other tracks on 'Me Oh My' is more than a subtle nod to Velvet Underground, it's a bow. But if the title track was the first you'd ever heard of Cate Le Bon you may not guess what other surprises she had in store.
The opening track cranks up with 1970's sounding synth and feminine chaos that beckons PJ Harvey if it weren't for a much sweeter Cate.
'Hollow Trees House Hounds' moves away from 'Sad, Sad Feet' and 'Shoeing the Bone' ( a fantastic song I listened to repeatedly for days!!) to a 1960's surfer/hipster sound I am not sure fits Le Bon, but her serious vocal approach and minor keys somehow give the popular genre an interestingly modern touch.
'It's Not the End' has a completely different feel and may be the albums best song. Somehow you get the feeling that this song is closest to Le Bon's musical roots.
' Out to Sea' closes ' Me Oh My' where it began- a cold room with no sunshine. Cate Le Bon is definately a find and is worth sticking with until she polishes her raw talent into the beautiful gem she almost fully unearths on ' Me Oh My.'