One day Thao Nguyen (of Thao with The Get Down Stay Down) and Mirah (of uhh Mirah) decided to collaborate on an album in beautiful and (apparently) fruitful San Francisco. A few years back Thao's band opened for Mirah on tour. I was lucky to have caught one of their shows in Santa Barbara, and I think it's pretty obvious to say their friendship they struck up while on tour turned out to work in spades.
Thao & Mirah is not a cohesive album. Whether Merrill Garbius (of tUnE YarDs fame) turns up for the exotic opener "Eleven" or Mirah coos over the melancholy and ethereal intersteller travel song, "Spaced Out Orbit" or Thao walks with the fucking swagger of a rapper on "How Dare You," this is a collection of tunes that plays out like a summer cum autumn mixtape from 1975.
"Rubies and Rocks" is blacksploitation theme music at it's finest with Mirah getting her sultry James Brown on. "Folks" sees Thao doing what she does best, introspective country with a slightly delirious twist. However, it's when the two performers come together, that Thao & Mirah shines.
"Likable Man" starts off almost typically. Thao asserts herself on an unnamed stranger, "Put your hands down your pants, before your daddies do," and just as the trashcan blues is about to take off, Mirah jumps in with Alison Krauss-like harmonies, playing both ladies a little left of center, but all the better.
I don't think Thao & Mirah is greater than the sum of its parts, but goddamnit they're having a lot of fun. I can't deny opportunities like this, and will gladly accept more if this relationship continues.
Listen:
Thao & Mirah-"Likeable Man"
Look:
Thao & Mirah over at Kill Rockstars
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