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In a semi-converted warehouse near the waterfront, I wander into a large room to see people crowded around a string quartet. Intrigued, I move closer. In front of the instrumentalists, a short woman with a microphone announces that, probably just for tonight, they are Sotto In Su. They proceed to craft a weird and lovable musical hybrid. Two guys provide whumping electronic percussion. I hate electronic percussion, but there's so much else going on here that I barely notice it. The string quartet provide more complexity than my poor little rocker's brain knows what to do with. The cello is mixed way too low, but the viola provides a surprising amount of low end. Then Pamela, the aforementioned short woman, begins to sing, and it's all about her. I don't even really like her voice, which is kind of high and whiny in tone, but the things she does with it are amazing, jazzy and comfortable and intensely musical. There are melodies, and she is singing them, but she's not constrained by them. Their penultimate song is an improv, with plucked violins and high, soft, wordless cooing. Bjork is mentioned as a possible touchstone here. It's worth putting my name on the mailing list.
