The Crash Test Dummies sort of disappeared five years ago. Brad Roberts' signature baritone voice was silenced. Until now. Oooh La La! is an album build around the Optigan, a low tech keyboard with "pre-recorded optical soundtracks to reproduce sound" - which allows for old school sampling. The result could have been a cheesy collection of novelty songs, but the album focuses on acoustic instruments, with leading roles for the violin and cello and the luscious background vocals of Ellen Reid - she sings lead on the closing track Put a Face.
Roberts worked with producer/engineer Stewart Lerman of Antony and the Johnsons fame. The album sounds light and well balanced, with just enough middle-of-the road lounge act appeal to get the Crash Test Dummies on mainstream radio again.
Crash Test Dummies:
Brad Roberts: lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Ellen Reid: vocals
Stewart Lerman: electric guitar, drums, omnichord
Steuart Smith: acoustic guitar, bass
Rob Morsberger: keyboards, string arrangement
Suzanne Ornstein: violin, viola
Debbie Assael: cello
Oooh La La! is released on Deep Fried Records and earMUSIC. Buy it from the band's website.
Tracks:- Song Bird
- You Said You'd Meet Me (In California)
- And It's Beautiful
- Paralyzed
- The In-Between Place
- Not Today Baby
- Heart of Stone
- Lake Bras d'Or
- What I'm Famous For
- Now You See Her
- Put a Face
- 10/01 Victoria, BC @ Element Nightclub
- 10/02 Vancouver, BC @ Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
- 10/05 Calgary, AB @ The Grand Theatre
- 10/06 Edmonton, AB @ Myer Horowitz Theatre
- 10/07 Saskatoon, SK @ Broadway Theatre
- 10/08 Regina, SK @ The Exchange
- 10/09 Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cumnings Theatre
- 10/13 Hamilton, ON @ The Studio
- 10/14 Toronto, ON @ St. Paul's United Church
- 10/15 Ottawa, ON @ First Baptist Church
- 10/16 Montreal, QUE @ Cabaret Du Musee Juste Pour Rire
- 10/18 Halifax, NS @ The Carleton
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