Violet Indiana
Casino
Label:  Instinct Records 
Date:  1/22/2002
Length:  0:00
Format:  CD
Genre:  Rock; Indie
  Category:  rock
    Track Listing:
      1.  
      		 Jailbird    
      2.  
      		 Bang Bang    
      3.  
      		 Purr La Perla    
      4.  
      		 Silent    
      5.  
      		 Storm    
      6.  
      		 Sky    
      7.  
      		 Safe Word    
      8.  
      		 Ne Me Quitte Pas    
      9.  
      		 Poppy    
      10.  
      		 Torn Up    
      11.  
      		 Heaven    
      12.  
      		 Chapter Three    
    Additional info: | top

      Casino blends the ethereality of '80s Cocteau Twins with the funky gloom of '90s trip-hop, so it should come as no surprise that Violet Indiana's lineup is composed of ex-Cocteau Twins frontman Robin Guthrie and former Mono vocalist Siobhan De Mare. Both Guthrie and trip-hop tend to favor darkly romantic lyrics, lush textures, slow-to-medium tempos, and highly stylized female vocals. Guthrie's once innovative and influential guitar sound is the central musical element on this album, a collection of previously released material plus three unreleased tracks. His chorus/delay/reverb-drenched guitar floods the sonic spectrum with shimmery, almost aquatic, tones. De Mare's singing takes on many forms: she's sassy on "Bang Bang," wispy on "Poppy," and unabashedly dramatic on "Chapter Three." Unfortunately, Casino sounds a tad stale; it's a slightly updated, watered-down version of musical styles that were once quite striking. But Cocteau Twins devotees and trip-hop fans should like it just fine. --Fred Cisterna