Ents and Arts: Music

Album Review: The Cellophane Flowers - If I Was a Girl

By Sam Bolton
Published: 15/05/2010

Based in London but hailing from all over the globe - Italian Vocalist, Australian multi-instrumentalist and guitarist from England; The Cellophane Flowers debut EP is an interesting selection of quirky pop tracks.

The opening track, ‘Yes I Am’, starts subtly with a quiet, subdued guitar riff alongside the simple percussion which quickly climbs and becomes a brief furore of distorted chords and heavy drums before again settling down in the timid verse.

‘Freeze Me’ is a change of pace from the opener. Guitar and vocals work together, sharing the melodies, a pleasant combination. Pleasant, though, is as far as most of the tracks on If I Was A Girl go. The talent of the band is apparent but at times it feels too restrained, too safe.

Vocalist, Francesca Corradini’s vocals are the strongest part of The Cellophane Flowers outfit. Although at times slightly unintelligible, the distinct tone; reminiscent of both Marina and the Diamonds and Kate Jackson, formally of The Long Blondes offers something unique in amongst the otherwise average sound.

‘It’s a Beautiful Lie’ charms in very much the same way as Noah and the Whale’s ‘Five Years Time’. Smiles and summer spring to mind as the acoustic rhythm guitar sway and the vocals and crisp lead guitar bounce off one and other.

The Cellophane Flowers are at their best in ‘Count Me In’, bringing If I Was a Girl to a strong conclusion. More subdued and gradual than the optimistic odd-ball pop that preceded it; its melodic bass runs and evocatively toned lead guitar are enough to suggest that the group has more to offer than is on show in their debut.

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