Bitter Ruin – Hung, Drawn and Quartered

Georgia Train (vocals) and Ben Richards (vocals, guitar) are a U.K.-based duo who has previously released two song-packed EPs in 2007 and 2008.  Hung, Drawn and Quartered, their much-anticipated, self-released debut album that was recorded with producer Jason Rubal in the U.S., drops May 26^th and it’s a compact and vibrant collection of 8 emotionally raw, story-telling songs that includes the vocally- and lyrically-ferocious “Chewing Gum”, which was on an earlier EP, and a redone version of “Outrageous” (also from an earlier EP), with its tables-are-turned lyrics and vigorous, vocally-scaling runs.

The dynamic duo captivates with Georgia’s powerful and audacious vocal acrobatics, Ben’s equally sure, strong, and rhythmic guitar work, and the mordantly noir lyrics.  Georgia and Ben’s musical style is dramatic and theatrical, and listeners who are fans of The Dresden Dolls and Amanda Palmer’s side project Evelyn Evelyn will find much to admire in Bitter Ruin.  The lyrics are bleak and bitter, but are kindled by Georgia’s intense and spirited vocals that sweep from a lighter, darling, girlish tone to sharp exclamations in a flash, accompanied just as snappily by Ben’s kinetic guitar patterns.

The songs range from the classic Bitter Ruin style of “Stand to Attention” with its lively, tense, sharp-edged menace, to the more reflective “Deficiency of You”, which gives a chance for Ben to let loose a bit vocally, rivaling Georgia in vocal twists ‘n’ turns halfway through the tune.  Opener “Chewing Gum” features staccato vocals and upfront acoustic guitar on the verses, with the ever-mercurial Georgia traipsing over her words and Ben just as fleet-footed with spare, but stirring guitar notes.  The bilious chorus finds Georgia expressively belting out the lyrics and Ben chiming in every so often, lending vocal support as Georgia pushes her voice to the edge, singing “…we find / a person can’t survive without an ounce of love.”

Follow-up “Soundproof Box” has a varied tempo throughout, with Georgia singing in a soft, delicate tone like Kate Bush against limpid guitar strum on the verses.  She alternates lines with Ben, who also sings in a hushed tone, until the end of the second verse where they harmonize lightly.  There is a build up of brisker guitar and mid-range piano notes, with a carnival-like break mid-song , as Georgia and Ben both exclaim harshly, only to go back to the original template of slowly draw-out words, with Georgia singing up high, wispily and gingerly, about being kept in “A soundproof box / where nothing can be heard – it’s locked.”

The change-of-pace “A Brand New Me” has an alt-folk sound with gentle, fluid, fast-picked guitar and is a showcase for a mellower Georgia and the lyrics.  She pirouettes around the syllables, singing in a more vulnerable tone, like Amy Duncan or Kate Bush, and then drops to a deeper, but hopeful, register on the second verse, drawing out the words “I’ll come out the other side / a brand new me.”

http://bitterruin.com/