Maurice and I
St. Paul Pioneer Press
City Pages
Hero Illustrated
The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones
The Utne Reader
Minnesota Public Radio
Dirty Linen
Relix
Minneapolis Star Tribune
City Pages
Folk Roots (May 1994)
Folk Roots (October 1994)
St. Paul Pioneer Press
St. Paul Pioneer Press
St. Paul, Minnesota
by Jim Walsh
The Flash Girls, "Maurice and I" (Fabulous; ***) This fantasy folk duo's debut, "The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones," was one of my favorite local releases of last year, and this followup, while slightly less rewarding than that blast of fresh aire is yet another beguiling witches' brew. This time out, the Flash Girls (Emma Bull and Lorraine Garland) expand on their Renaissance-women trip by including more Celt-influenced vocals and instrumentals (the exquisite "Heathen Horse," borrowed from pals/collaborators Boiled in Lead, and the haunty, jaunty "Elvira in Paris").
Admittedly, their mystical muse is something of an acquired taste. As such, the farcical word play of "Yeti" is wonderful, but the bombastic "Me and Dorothy Parker" is the kind of thing that's cute exactly one time through. Like "Pansy Smith," "Maurice and I" is a journey back to some ambiguous medieval time, but this is by no means a "First Knight"-botching of a beloved tale. Nope, the Flash Girls' stories are decidedly of the here and now. In fact, tunes such as the powerful Neil Gaiman collaboration "A Girl Needs A Knife" says as much about female fear and self-defense as Tori Amos' "Me and a Gun" said about rape and revenge, both of which sing softly and carry a big message.
IndexCity Pages
Minneapolis, Minnesota; August 9, 1995
by Jim Meyer
Letter Girls
After years of reviewing music, I've come to realize that the mark of a good
song is that the song either draws you in completely to a writer's point of
view, or transports you off to some other dimension of reality. Local folk
duo the Flash Girls manage to do both. Guitarist Emma Bull and fiddler "The
Fabulous Lorraine" (Garland, if you must know) are on a leisurely artistic
journey that begins with Celtic folk tradition, then saunters surefootedly
into the modern age.
These renegades from teh Renaissance Festival circuit blazed their own path about three years ago, and now find themselves in the midst of an unlikely network of folkies, novelists, and comic book creators that is centered here in the Twin Cities but spans the globe. Bull has four fantasy/sci-fi novels to her credit, and has in fact promoted her group at sci-fi and book conventions (their record is available at Dreamhaven Books in Dinkytown as well as in record shops).
Behind this network are the tireless folk rock internationalists of Boiled in Lead, who've inspired and assisted the Flash Girls, with whom they share a musical fearlessness as well as literary cross-pollination (see notes, below). BiL singer/guitarist Adam Stemple-- who played with Bull in local folk-rock legent Cat's Laughing-- has produced both Flash Girls CDs, including the new Maurice and I (Fabulous Records), which is winning great reviews, broad public radio play locally, and increasing air-time nationwide. In fact, the disc has gotten play as far away as Australia, thanks to another FG supporter, the British-born, Wisconsin-based comic book creator Neil (Sandman) Gaiman, a friend and occasional Flash Girls lyricist, who makes a habit of talking up the group in interviews worldwide.
Though their literary associations have helped them build both a local core audience and international contacts, that in itself wouldn't necessarily guarantee greatness. However, the duo's attention to character and dramatic detail distinguishes their work, which is made all the more striking by Emma and Lorraine's honest delivery and uncluttered accompaniments. Lyrics to the tender "Prince Charming Comes" come courtesy of fantasy author Jane Yolen (Stemple's mother, who also wrote "Robin's Complaint" on BiL's Antler Dance LP). Another standout track, "Me and Dorothy Parker," is a fun, fantastical tribute to the late satirist by another British comic art pioneer, Alan Moore, writer of the Watchmen comic series.
With additional lyrical input from Gaiman, Maurice and I affirms the Flash Girls' distinct flair for the disturbing folk ballad, best exemplified by "A Girl Needs a Knife." Yet those are balanced by a generous helping of Lorraine's original fiddle tunes, traditional remakes, and the occasional bright ode from Emma's pen. By approaching folk music more as a fun second line than a religion, the Flash Girls have created a wide-open creative space for all manner of quality material, be it humorous, haunting, or homey. The musical variety and lyrical veracity makes Maurice and I endlessly interesting, and no small folkie achievement.
The Flash Girls perform August 9 at Fine Line Music Cafe with The Stuart Martz Trio, Bedlam Union (formerly Bedlam Boys), and singer-songwriter Lojo Russo, also of Cat's Laughing. Music starts at 9 p.m. $3 at the door.
PARBOILED IN LEAD: BiL fans should be aware of an unusual new release, Songs from the Gypsy, described as "Music of Adam Stemple and Steven Brust, performed by Boiled in Lead." Novelist Brust has co-written a book of the same name with Megan Lindholm, which is based on song ideas that date back to Stemple and Brust's days in Cat's Laughing. Thus an acconpanying book soundtrack made perfect sense. The set differes a bit from BiL's usual whirl-of-world-music approach, and seems more a showcase for Stemple's roots in American-style folk and rock. It's also quite a departure from Brust's witty 1993 album, A Rose for Iconoclasts [sic]. And software heads take note: Songs has an i-trax CD-rom component (playable on MPC2 and Macs) that marries music and book in a nifty interactive package.
IndexUtne Reader
March/April 1994
The Flash Girls: The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones (Spin Art c/o SteelDragon Press, Box 7253, Minneapolis, MN 55407; 612/721-6076). The find of the year and perhaps beyond. Emma Bull (vocals, guitar, kazoo, mouthbow, and spoons) and Lorraine Garland (fiddle and vocals) have created an album that is magical-- as befits Bull's other gig as an acclaimed author of science fiction/fantasy novels. The overtones are Celtic, the undertones punk folk, and the sensibilities decidedly twisted; listen to "Tea and Corpses" with someone you love. --E.S.
IndexMinnesota Public Radio
...intricate vocal harmonies, and lyrics with a strong flavor of Edgar Allen Poe...
IndexDirty Linen
...a pleasing album that concentrates on the excellent vocals of Emma Bull and the energetic fiddling of Lorraine Garland...
IndexRelix
Vol. 21, No. 2
by Mick Skidmore
The Flash Girls is an esoteric folky duo consisting of Emma Bull on guitar and vocals (from a Minneapolis band I like a lot, Cats Laughing) and Lorraine Garland on vocals and fiddle. The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones (Spin Art) is its debut CD. This is highly recommended to anyone with an inkling of interest in music of the British Isles, as that's what it draws heavily on, with some unusual twists thrown in. There's a haunting reworking of a Cats' tune, "Signal To Noise" as well as some beautiful traditional and original instrumentals. Even better is the a capella rendition of "What Will We Do," which highlights Bull's gorgeous voice. CD's are $15 and tapes are $10 from Spin Art, c/o Steel Dragon Press, Box 7253, Minneapolis, MN 55407.
IndexMinneapolis Star Tribune
March 13, 1994; Minneapolis, Minnesota
by Vickie Gilmer
With Irish reels that buoy their music and ballads that are as homey as old Bonnie, the Flash Girls' CD will comfort those looking for a little tradition wrapped in a campfire-like setting. While some tunes can get a bit too kitschy, the album can leave you wishing for more jigs. But the pure, sweet and simple vocals, lovely odes ("Sonnet in the Dark"), vivid tales ("Death on Hennepin") and a fair share of traditional takes ("What Will We Do," "Holly's Waltz/Diggy Diggy Low") are more than enough to satiate any fan of the Waterboys or Chieftains.
IndexCity Pages
April 6, 1994; Minneapolis, Minnesota
by Jim Meyer
FLASH GIRLS/MACHINERY HILL/MARTZ AND MENTON Three Irish music compatriots who take varying approaches to the sound. The weird charms of the Flash Girls' modern-traditional songwriting and vocal harmonies are growing on me with each listen to their CD, The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones (Spin Art). The Girls' Renaissance Festival friends Stuart Martz and Todd Menton open the show with more truly traditional folk songs and interpretations. In between, it's time to let loose with Machinery Hill, an accordian-driven electric sextet who suggests what could happen if the Wallets came back to life as Boiled in Lead. $3. Music at 9 p.m. Fine Line Music Cafe, 318 First Ave. N., Mpls; 338-8100. (Monday, April 11, 1994)
IndexFolk Roots
May 1994
by Simon Jones
Music Hall-- as we called it-- or Vaudeville (as our American cousins would have it) was a mosaic: a polyglot of entertainment which could consist of anything from tightrope walking chickens, smutty third-rate comedians to operatic sopranos venting forth. This album is kind of like that. The girls in question are puritan blackness and high collars-- they're Little House On The Prairie chic meeting Broadway brass. All very theatrical. Somewhat renowned former sci-fi authoress and art rocker Emma Bull and fiddler The Fabulous Lorraine Garland tread carefully through a myriad litter of styles, rolling them into one whiffy joint.
Besides a smell of lunacy, pungent aromas bring visions of the Irish tradition and an underlying darker edge which adds a dash of adventure. A trend underlined by the fact that most of the present and ex-Boiled in Lead family help out on tales of Death picking up hookers, pilfering society girls and psuedo-Irishified diddly-doddly waffle, all of which works splendidly. This is honestly the only recording I've heard which incorporates jigs and a bull whip!!
'Is this healthy listening?', you ask. Who cares. It's acoustic, bold, and like all things a touch wicked, delicious. As for Pansy Smith and Violet Jones, they maybe Flash Girls, but they're no Silly Sisters.
IndexFolk Roots
October 1994
by Simon Jones
FANTASY GIRLS: Simon Jones penetrates the weird world of the Flash Girls
There is something other-wordly here.
"Pansy and Violet are us, but then again, they can't just appear, they have to be summoned." Ooo err! "If the mood is right on stage then they'll show. All we do is stand there and play our instruments, if the songs are right then we can more or less guarantee that Pansy and Violet will come on by."
Emma Bull (sometime author, sometime musician) and The Fabulous Lorraine Garland (assistant to comic book writers and sometime fiddler) are The Flash Girls, several parts folk music, several parts vivid imagination and lotsa parts spooky!
"I once saw a documentary programme about an English wrestler called Kendo Nagasaki" says Lorraine. "He was an oldish man when the interview took place, but he had wrestled from the early '80s right into the late '80s. He said that there were two definite sides to his personality: there was him, the normal man to his wife and children then there was Kendo. Kendo could only exist when he was in a wrestling situation. He was and he wasn't Kendo. That's a bit like us with Pansy and Violet really."
So, ventures the hack, we can expect more of these two characters in future? Emma: "As long as we are here so are Pansy and Violet."...Brrr! There's a draught in here or is it me?
Would they care to pick ideal partners for Violet and Pansy. Say Cecil Sharp and Lobo? Emma: "Nah, Roadrunner and Coyote!"
Pansy Smith and Violet Jones, shadowy others of guitarist Bull and fiddler Garland, people and spooked folk. They have a fantasy release, titled rather fancily The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones, the sort of album not to play in a darkened room with the curtains drawn. Bull and Garland are rather cheery about their weird concoction of Irish reel, folksy ballad, singer/writer pretensions and flat-out wackiness. If The Addams Family made a CD it might sound like this.
But to much brigher things, and these two young Americans (Minneapolis actually) do have light as well as shade.
Ms. Garland.. you're called Fabulous. Why?
"Well... why am I, Emma?"
"Because you are, we all are, even Simon!"
Come again?
"It's all a matter of attitude isn't it? If you think you'll succeed, then be positive and half the struggle is over."
The Flash Girls are certainly unique enough to go places. They first paired up after meeting in a sort of rock band which played renaissance fairs (these, dear reader, being a rough approximation of what many of our American cousins think passes for cutesy and terribly historical).
Garland: "Oooh... they have things like morris dancing and serve tea!"
Sounds dreadful! Anyway the two girls decided they would work together, others told them they'd sound good together, so with Emma's husband as a manager they set out to conquer the world, or at least Minneapolis and its associated roots scene.
Emma: "One of our first gigs was supporting Warren Zevon (another psycho, so a well-matched gig - S.J.) and when the curtains went back I nearly fainted. There were something like 1,200 faces staring back at us. Man, that was nervy. But we stuck to our tunes and came through."
Lorraine: "We were so green back then. We learned quickly, though, and by last summer we were ready to record our first album." Which they did in sweltering heat and with most of Boiled in Lead along for the crack.
"Yeah, the air conditioning broke down in the studio. It was over 90 degrees. Can you imagine what that does to the tuning?" Lorraine mutters. "We needed Boiled in Lead because we sat down and thought who we'd want on our album. There's a spaced-out Sufi from Jupiter for a drummer, a sensitive Jewish fiddler raised on Klezmer music, a lovely blonde guitarist who throws gravel at the blues, and Drew Miller who wants to be in a hardcore punk band. So we said we could relate to most of that and hired them. Besides, they're our friends, too," says Emma.
Rumours are already flying of a follow-up due in September, again with B.I.L. and guitarist Adam Stemple producing.
What role did Neil Gaiman (author of D.C.'s Sandman comic book and Lorraine's boss) have in their doings? "Oh he just writes the neatest songs (like numbers about Death abducting hookers and general kerb-crawling nastiness). We'll certainly be doing more of his songs on the next album or I'll tell him to do his own filing and won't make his tea", says Lorraine.
And to close... any ambitions?
Emma: "Yeah, are you listening Britain. We want to come to London, come to the folk clubs and play to everyone."
Everyone in Britain in a folk club? It'll be a first!
IndexSt. Paul Pioneer Press
January 7, 1994; St. Paul, Minnesota
by Jim Walsh
Roundup of local music releases begins with a breathtaking Flash
It's time again for a roundup of recent local music releases-- the good, the bad and the boring (to be continued in Sunday's Showtime section...):
The Flash Girls, "The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones" (Spin Art).
Notice it's "return" and not "reincarnation." In a music world beset by narcissism, trends, and out-of-control commercialism, Emma Bull and Lorraine Garland (a.k.a. the Flash Girls) are driven by a higher calling: the conservation of a folk-music tradition that passes down songs from one generation to the next. Sound like a snooze? Far from it, because while "The Return" is framed by veneration, it is no slavish paean to ye olden dayes, as evidenced by Adam Stemple's smart production (check the fabulously foggy fade-out to "The Herring Song") and modern-day fables such as the macabre "Death on Hennepin," in which a young woman meets her fate outside the Uptown Bar, and the gallows humor of original madrigals like "Tea and Corpses" and "Postmorten on Our Love."
Awash in strains of traditional Celtic, Hungarian and Norwegian guitar/fiddle/mandolin arrangements, and the tortured-to-beatific vocals (but never overwrought, unlike so many modern minstrel wannabes) of Bull and Garland, the title of "Smith and Jones" is inspired by a mystical turn-of-the-century folk duo who may or may not be fictitious (Neil Gaiman's liner notes on the historical specifics of the pair are at least as magical as many of the songs themselves). But listening to this exquisite CD, one thing is clear: Pansy and Violet aren't dead, nor have they taken over anyone's souls. They've just been away for awhile.
IndexAll articles © copyright the respective writers and publications Revised: 11/4/95 / Laurel Krahn / laurel@pobox.com