Pitchfork Track Review: The Orchids at pastrysharp

Published July 27th, 2006 in press

Califone: “The Orchids” [2006]
Every once in a while a song catches Califone leader Tim Rutili’s ear and he’s moved to cover it, no matter how seemingly incongruous the source. Rutili’s old act Red Red Meat had two choice bits from Christmas TV specials in its repertoire: “There’s Always Tomorrow” from Bunny Gets Paid (originally sung by button-nosed Clarice to red-nosed Rudolph) and “Welcome Christmas” from How the Grinch Stole Christmas as the B-side to the “There’s a Star Above the Manger Tonight” single. Then there was the 1995 take on 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love”, with a dynamic arrangement that exploded in a mess of guitar trying to cover the fact that Rutili couldn’t quite hit the delicate vocal.
Here, Califone tackle on Psychic TV’s lilting “The Orchids”, taking the spacious gamelan percussion and croaking voice of the original and transforming it into a worn and sturdy folk chestnut. Rutili’s voice couldn’t be more perfect for the clipped melody and skewed turns of phrase that surprise with swipes of warmth (”And in the morning after the night/ I fall in love with the light”), sounding, dare I say, inspirational. There’s even some harmonica blowing in there somewhere, amplifying this Genesis P-Orridge confection into a sentimental and moving campfire sing-along for the ages. Fantastic.
(Link)
Thanks to Mike for sending this our way!

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