REVIEW: Dana & Karen Kletter, Dear Enemy (Hannibal/Rykodisc)
- Chelsea Spear
For all her abundant talent, Dana Kletter has had some heartbreaking near-misses. Her first ensemble, Blackgirls, broke up before they could realise their true potential, and Dish were buried under ornate production, extraneous filler tracks, and the corporate indifference of a label refocusing their priorities. While her abilities might be a bit too challenging for mainstream recognition, Dear Enemy, may be her most fully realised work, the one that cements her as a compelling voice and helps her connect with new fans and longtime admirers alike.
However, Dear Enemy is the work of more than one person. Dana's twin sister Karen, who vetoed a career in music to pursue her Ph.D in medieval languages, comprises the other half of the equation. The sisters united musically to create a sort of photo album recalling their unusual upbringing. The songs on Dear Enemy show the influence of the music of their youth, the Transylvanian folk songs of their mother and grandmother, who survived Auchwitz, and their street-tough father's show tunes and jazz. All this is informed by the melodic, indie-influenced pop for which Dana is, in some circles, renowned.
Though, as the press release states, "the music sounds like this: la, la, la, la", don't expect the kind of twee lilt that would normally be described in such words. Nimble arrangements, good use of cello and an able hand at the mixing table bring a beautiful low end to light, giving the songs a rich, sonically resonant sound. The lush melodies are countered with lyrics suggesting the inner strife of their family during the sisters' youth - "Father Song" and "Flight Into Egypt" suggest conflict with their father as he runs from the law, "Sister Song" showing the conflict between twins, and the lilting "Meteor Mom" bringing the solace and comfort they found in their mother to the surface.
The sisters have said in interview after interview that they are just a pair of twins with stories to tell, and that none of the songs are supposed to be cathartic. However, the aching beauty of Dear Enemy, brings the emotional truth of dysfunctional family life, in the days before there was a word for such conflict, to light. If you're a fan of Damon and Naomi's dreamy folk or the spare honesty and melodicism of Nina Simone, Dear Enemy, is the album for you. One of the year's ten best.
