I’ve Suffered Imperfection

Chicks On Speed Records’ new Girlmonster compilation is a treasure trove of high quality, foward-thinking music by female artists new and old, and if you’ve been enjoying a fair chunk of what’s been on offer here over the past five years, there’s a good chance that you’ll quite like it given that I wish that I could write up a majority of its 60 tracks. A number of the artists featured have been on this site in the past — Le Tigre, Barbara Morgenstern, Rhythm King and Her Pals, Kevin Blechdom, Ana da Silva, Sir Alice, Chicks On Speed, Cobra Killer, Vivien Goldman, Client, Peaches, Boyskout, Erase Errata, The Slits, Delta 5, Planningtorock, Bjork, Gustav, LiliPUT — and it’s probable that many others will pop up here before too long.

Cobra Killer “Mr. Chang” – Apparently sung from the perspective of an airline representative informing a businessman that his luggage has been lost in transit, Cobra Killer turn out what may be their most charming and catchy tune to date. They affect the sing-song tone of a disconnected person cheerfully delivering bad news, but somehow it’s hard not to be on their side or feel too badly for “Mr. Chang” or “Mr. Scarface.”

Michaela Melián “Manifesto” – The title sort of gives away the tone of the lyrics, but only so much. This song is not particularly strident, but it is strong, serious, and patient, and plays out over a subtly arranged track that is extremely calm and collected without stifling the warmth and humanity under its mostly cool textures and Melián’s thick German accent. (I am sort of ridiculous because I did not realize that this is a Roxy Music cover, most likely because I just never really liked Roxy Music very much.) (Click here to buy it via Chicks On Speed Records’ Girlmonster site.)