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Mary TimonyEx Hex Lookout/Shock After a recent appearance on the Team Sleep record, ex-Helium frontwoman Mary Timony has released her third solo album. Recorded by Fugazi's Brendan Canty, 'Ex Hex' has been welcomed by some as a return to the great art-rock form displayed by Timony in Helium. To me, that seems unfair - Timony's last two solo albums were interesting and impressive, if fantastic and a little airy-fairy. She has pulled back on the fantasy themes a little this time though, and the result is remarkable. Over time, Timony's sound has become an ethereal mix between medieval themes and quasi-middle-eastern guitar work. The result takes you somewhere far away in both space and time, but keeps your attention. Most importantly though, this record rocks. Friend To JC harks back to mid-nineties fem-rock a la Tanya Donnelly and Juliana Hatfield, while xylophone work combined with oddly compelling guitar progressions build songs like Silence to incredible heights. Elsewhere, there is no shortage of spiralling guitar progressions, as revealed by the grandeur of Hard Times Are Hard! Devin Ocampo's ponderous, yet measured and inventive percussion complements Timony perfectly. With no shortage of creativity and atmosphere, 'Ex Hex' is probably Mary Timony's best work yet.  |
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