Album Review: Xenia Rubinos - Black Terry Cat

Just as alt-rock was rock that you couldn't dance to, "alt-R&B", as it's called, isn't likely to get a party started.

Rather, the draw here is playing and composition, and while Rubinos is hardly Verdine White on the bass, the drumming surprises on more than one occasion. The synth/bass/drum set-up, used to oddly irresistible effect on single Lonely Lover, recall old school fusion groups such as the Soft Machine. The overall weirdness recalls Frank Zappa, if Zappa were going through a bad break-up. Given how intelligent she comes across, we're inclined to wish her the very best with her potential suitors, but we get the feeling domestic bliss would make for less interesting music.