Latest from Philadelphia’s Emily Robb, a whimsical soundtrack to the short film The Space Between Attack and Decay [Jessica Kourkounis (director) and Richie Fravel (writer)], via Petty Bunco.
Haven’t seen the film, but if these tracks offer any indication it probably moves between the playful and the absurd.
Cut at 45 rpm, these nine pieces expand upon some of the joyfulness that made Robb’s two solo Lps so refreshing.
When we first discovered Emily’s How To Moonwalk (Petty Bunco) in late 2021/early 2022 we had mostly given up on solo guitar LPs (to say nothing live shows. At that time, our store rule was if two solo guitar sets were listed on the same bill, no thanks. We started calling those bills prostate drug commercials). Like hardcore, things had gotten too reverential and orthodox w/ early ‘aughts solo guitar, lots of torso dudes sitting down and paying their respects.
How To Moonwalk felt invigotarting and fun, by contrast, sorta taking the piss out of it all, while still rocking (and possibly deconstructing) Chuck Berry and all the proto-rock punks he spawned. We sense Emily had a body of work well before our introduction in 2021, so the tone and positivity may not have been a surprise to everyone, but for us, this was not the deadeye Philly music that we knew from the mid-1980s to the present.
And this soundtrack broadens Robb’s palate, nine brief studies in different voices, all of which move about in light and interesting ways. Yes, there may be some Morricone #SpaghettiWestern guitar and mood, but Emily seems to be smiling back at the grandmaster rather than sweating or genuflecting.
Rewarding to hear an artist develop and work outside their primary musical voice, while still giving us touches of the familiar. The acoustic guitar and bass feel nimble and easy. The trumpet punctuates to the left and right.
Had to show restraint not weaving “attack and decay” into this write-up. Mission Accomplished, Philadelphia!
Congrats all around!
Latest from Philadelphia’s Emily Robb, a whimsical soundtrack to the short film The Space Between Attack and Decay [Jessica Kourkounis (director) and Richie Fravel (writer)], via Petty Bunco.
Haven’t seen the film, but if these tracks offer any indication it probably moves between the playful and the absurd.
Cut at 45 rpm, these nine pieces expand upon some of the joyfulness that made Robb’s two solo Lps so refreshing.
When we first discovered Emily’s How To Moonwalk (Petty Bunco) in late 2021/early 2022 we had mostly given up on solo guitar LPs (to say nothing live shows. At that time, our store rule was if two solo guitar sets were listed on the same bill, no thanks. We started calling those bills prostate drug commercials). Like hardcore, things had gotten too reverential and orthodox w/ early ‘aughts solo guitar, lots of torso dudes sitting down and paying their respects.
How To Moonwalk felt invigotarting and fun, by contrast, sorta taking the piss out of it all, while still rocking (and possibly deconstructing) Chuck Berry and all the proto-rock punks he spawned. We sense Emily had a body of work well before our introduction in 2021, so the tone and positivity may not have been a surprise to everyone, but for us, this was not the deadeye Philly music that we knew from the mid-1980s to the present.
And this soundtrack broadens Robb’s palate, nine brief studies in different voices, all of which move about in light and interesting ways. Yes, there may be some Morricone #SpaghettiWestern guitar and mood, but Emily seems to be smiling back at the grandmaster rather than sweating or genuflecting.
Rewarding to hear an artist develop and work outside their primary musical voice, while still giving us touches of the familiar. The acoustic guitar and bass feel nimble and easy. The trumpet punctuates to the left and right.
Had to show restraint not weaving “attack and decay” into this write-up. Mission Accomplished, Philadelphia!
Congrats all around!
