It could be the obvious fact that both are foreign women who have been professional models, but I think the connections between quintessential pop chanteuse Nico and up and coming songstress Carmen Villain extend further. “Liffeissin,” the initial single emerge from Villain’s debut album Sleeper explored hooky, down-tempo pop, but many songs on the album are constructed from cold, clanging guitars, psychedelic reverberations, and eerie experimentation. The album also possess a cool detachment, and Villain has openly claimed that the record seeks to express the emptiness that came along with the life she led as a model.
More than a couple of the songs remind me of a middle ground that exists between The Velvet Underground and Cat Power. Villain’s mournful, somber vocals float on moody instrumentation. Undoubtedly, “Lifeissin” stands out as one of the album’s best songs. Its only downside is that it possibly misrepresents the album to listeners. Sleeper has plenty to offer without having to feel like it needs to send out its showiest pony first. Another accessible track, “Dreamo” is great and sounds just like it ought to—a wavering apparition of haunting vocals, floating accordion keys, and pulsing drums.
Villain can eschew pop sensibilities as on “Easy,” which borrows from 90s indie and punk and recalls Moon Pix era Cat Power channeling VU’s “Venus in Furs.” It’s a better cut than “Obedience,” which represents a totally divergent experimental approach with atmospheric noise backing bongo drums sprawling out over six minutes. It’s an odd decision to stretch the track out so long, but not as strange as the decision to place it before the powerful churn of “Made A Shell” or the lean but creepy pop of “How Much.”
“Kingwoman” picks up the pop late in the album before a brief interlude and the completely terrifying finale of “Demon Lover.” In the end, Sleeper represents a cohesive vision with intriguing and vital points of reference. It shows that while there are some missteps and plenty of room for growth, Villain has her finger on the pulse of something important.
