They might overplay the turn of the century plantation costume drama, complete with corsets and explorations of sanitized slave cabins but eleven years old Rasputina haven’t half breathed new life into gothic-rock. True, they might wield cellos rather than guitars but beneath the petticoats and behind the velvet curtains there beats a dark ,dark heart of purist sulphur.
Formed in 1991 by Melora Creager (cellist for hire to Nirvana, Marilyn Manson, Porno For Pyros, Belle & Sebastian, Bob Mould and Goo Goo Dolls) Rasputina return from 1998’s ‘Cabin Fever’ with ‘Frustration Plantation’. They’ve also shifted over from Columbia to Instinct Records. Why? Who knows, but it was always going to be a difficult ride for any major like Columbia to consider, as they don’t come as idiosyncratic as this little lot, and Rasputina was hardly going to be rolled out on tour with Beyonce or Neil Diamond in a hurry.
Keeping the deep cut and thrust of the cello and the voice well up in the mix, ‘Plantation Frustration’ is about as ‘concept’ as you’re likely to get. Take one turn-of-the-century Southern Belle, give her a manual to modern living, add some wickedly cruel humour, some kick-ass cello riffs, a touch of prophecy, some Kabbalism, and few antique trinket-boxes and hey presto, you have a satisfying and intelligent alternative to ‘Sex In The City’. And what it doesn’t have in the way of shots of Kim Cattrall giving a blow-job it makes up for in characterisation and double-entendre. ‘Wicked Dickie’ speaks for itself, but other tales of smouldering inhibition and writhing confusion are similarly tickled pink with a wry and brutal humour (‘My Captivity By Savages’ – just how bizarre is this?). Folklore and cabin song return in the form of ‘When I Was A Young Girl’ and ‘Momma Was An Opium Smoker’ – the former a flirtatious shanty of a song, the latter a robust and eerie narrative.
But what glues this album together and what elevates it beyond simple pastiche is the meticulous and authentic way these songs have been stitched together. Creager and co. have created characters that are so real, and styles that sound so old that they could quite feasibly be from this bygone era. On top of this they have the tunes and the sass to carry it off. Best tracks on the album? ‘If Your Kisses Can’t Hold The Man You Love (Your Tears Won’t Bring Him Back)’ – a track choc full of classic one liners – ‘Possum Of The Grotto’ – some mighty and muscular riffing – and ‘High On Life’ – a bizarre conflation of the ancient and the contemporary, and a bit like The Three Witches Of Eastwick’ meets ‘Kashmir’.
As passionate as Cobain. As clever as Love. And as clearly bonkers as both. Interview it and call it a vampire.