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Track Listings
| 1. Sweet Tooth Bird |
| 2. Humble Digs |
| 3. Dodecahedron |
| 4. Atlas |
| 5. NightSwimmer |
| 6. The Barely Skinny Tree |
| 7. Liliputt |
| 8. Veins |
| 9. Franklin Benedict |
| 10. Carousel |
Product Description
Review
At last, a glamorous Geordie showbiz lass that LA can understand. Twenty-two-year-old Beth Jeans Houghton grew up absorbing albums by Joni Mitchell and the ladies of the canyon and dreamed of decamping to the City of Angels. Quitting school early to fulfil her musical ambitions, by the close of her teens the statuesque blonde with a sophisticated set of pipes – equal parts Imogen Heap, My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden and those aforementioned distaff canyon troubadours – was an industry tip for the top with Next Big Thing practically tattooed on her forehand. In fact, Houghton’s hooves of destiny would be slowed to a canter and the shoo-in to stardom failed to materialise, mainly thanks to the protracted recording of this curiously named debut. Now, it seems, her time has finally come.
Brimming with galloping rhythms, vertiginous, hairpin-turn arrangements, baroque string flourishes, brass fanfaronades and soaring choirs, this never less than striking opening salvo exudes artistic confidence, if not downright chutzpah. Typically, opener Sweet Tooth Bird erupts in an explosion of martial drums, parping trumpets and, by turns, towering and witchy vocal descants which make Florence Welch sound like a shrinking violent by comparison. The chimera-like Humble Digs, meanwhile, finds room for banjos, a vocal steal from Talking Heads’ Air and a grand symphonic pop chorus that might have fallen off an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
Even when the torrential, kitchen-sink attack abates, as on the delicate, ukulele-strumming intro to Lilliput, the hurtling drums and gilded string phalanxes are soon pouring over the folky barricades, Houghton surfing the music in a delicious formation of immense overdubbed contralto harmonies.
The tag ‘psychedelic’, which is routinely appended to descriptions of BJH’s music, seems somewhat misplaced. Sure, corrida trumpets straight out of Love’s Forever Changes, and vivid, altered state lyrics about ‘boys with eyes of mercury’ abound, but this is music which evinces at least a passing acquaintance with Tin Pan Alley principles, and, for all its art-folk inspirations, it might have been tailored for a contemporary mainstream audience who like their mellifluous pop cut with a dash of vaulting kookiness.
--David Sheppard
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Product Description
CD .. Nose - & The Hooves Of Destiny
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By Leicester Bangs
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny - Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose (Mute)
I must stop taking people's Facebook pages as gospel. Beth Jeans Houghton's claims "(She) was born in Transylvania to a pack of albino wolves who raised her on chewing tobacco and stuffed clams. Despite they're hospitality, love conquers all and she soon eloped to scotch corner with her shiny new stallion Peter Andre". I'm sure less than half of that's true. The mild eccentricities of her biography are more than reflected in her music, a merging of Gothic folk, progressive spurts, Kate Bush-esque orchestrated grandeur and pure showmanship. Live, she certainly looks the part, with a bewitching wardrobe of the weird and wondrous; that she's able to carry those feelings of magic and spectacle onto her debut full-length recording is both astonishing and admirable.
The album begins with "Sweet Tooth Bird", with brass and a marching band beat barely settled before Houghton's remarkable vocal takes control. "Humble Digs" seems far more straightforward, but of course it's nothing of the sort as the song breaks down into separate, glorious parts. "Dodecahedron" is lush and quite otherworldly as its dream-lyric unfolds. When taken as a whole "Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose" is really quite enchanting, an exquisite journey into a world that isn't quite there. It's an album to be lived with and cherished - and records like that don't come along too often.
I must stop taking people's Facebook pages as gospel. Beth Jeans Houghton's claims "(She) was born in Transylvania to a pack of albino wolves who raised her on chewing tobacco and stuffed clams. Despite they're hospitality, love conquers all and she soon eloped to scotch corner with her shiny new stallion Peter Andre". I'm sure less than half of that's true. The mild eccentricities of her biography are more than reflected in her music, a merging of Gothic folk, progressive spurts, Kate Bush-esque orchestrated grandeur and pure showmanship. Live, she certainly looks the part, with a bewitching wardrobe of the weird and wondrous; that she's able to carry those feelings of magic and spectacle onto her debut full-length recording is both astonishing and admirable.
The album begins with "Sweet Tooth Bird", with brass and a marching band beat barely settled before Houghton's remarkable vocal takes control. "Humble Digs" seems far more straightforward, but of course it's nothing of the sort as the song breaks down into separate, glorious parts. "Dodecahedron" is lush and quite otherworldly as its dream-lyric unfolds. When taken as a whole "Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose" is really quite enchanting, an exquisite journey into a world that isn't quite there. It's an album to be lived with and cherished - and records like that don't come along too often.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Big Twink
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Of all the new albums I've bought this year (quite a few), this is the one I keep returning to. It's a superb debut, combining elements of every musical genre you can think of, but at its heart is great songcraft. There are moments of great intensity and energy, but also wonderful moments of sublety and lightness of touch.
For me, it's my album of the year so far.
For me, it's my album of the year so far.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Horrid Sid
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Every time I mention Beth's music to someone that doesn't know her and they ask what genre it is, I don't know what to say. You can't pigeonhole her. Herself and the Hooves have their own wonderful sound, which is why I love them. They are pretty much the only modern band I listen to or bother keeping up to date with.I don't think you could ask for a better debut album. And when you think the album's finished there's a nice punk send off at the end.
Also, I've had the privilege of getting to know Beth, and she's the kindest person I've ever met. The Hooves are pretty damn cool too!
Also, I've had the privilege of getting to know Beth, and she's the kindest person I've ever met. The Hooves are pretty damn cool too!
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4.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
What a great album, it had my foot tapping from the off. It also included a free cd, why doesnt all vinyl come with this?
Published 24 days ago by Faux
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mental case.
I really like this because it reminds me of ponies and candy floss.
love Sarah, age 4.
Can any one else hear Sparks in this? Punk? Florence? Louis 14th? Read more
love Sarah, age 4.
Can any one else hear Sparks in this? Punk? Florence? Louis 14th? Read more
Published 2 months ago by P. N. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whatever next?
This record has so much inventiveness, and it really does repay repeated listening, that you wonder what she will come up with next. Can't wait.
Published 2 months ago by D. M. Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!
Love Beth, saw her play when she was 17 at her brothers art jam! So so talented, great album. Beautiful! Been listening non stop. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Emily Adam
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best things in life are worth waiting for
By some accounts this long-player was a lengthy gestation for the canny Beth but it has arrived in a world which could really benefit from hearing the drama, playfulness and... Read more
Published 6 months ago by D. SPENCER
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
I don't often get obsessional about a CD. But this is superb. I am playing it non stop. The Guardian said it was 5* and I, for one, am not about to disagree.
Published 7 months ago by Nickynoobs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose: Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of...
This is an excellent debut album from Geordie songstress Beth Jeans Houghton and her band, the Hooves of Destiny. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Victor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blends Quirkiness & Accessibility Beautifully.
Melds experimental freak-folk with pop song writing in a stunning fashion. Beth Jeans Houghton juggles genres effortlessly without appearing schizophrenic or desperate - instead,... Read more
Published 8 months ago by C.Curtis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be gleeful and enjoy the tunes
A wonderful parade of gorgeous sounds, bought on the strength of an unlikely performance in Holt, Norfolk. Loving every listen, and apologies to no one for the kitchen dancing. Read more
Published 9 months ago by TomOx
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beth Jeans Houghton & Hooves of Destiny - Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose
Heard a track initially on Jo Whiley so bought the CD and absolutely no regrets - possibly the best music purchase in a couple of years. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Kiely
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