famous or not so famous cover art: February 2010

Sunday, February 21, 2010

angry mouths

These aren't pretty times
To give or get a dime
That makes our living crime
Gnashing bloody tongues

Micheli and the Macchiaioli: Tomboj de niaj patroj

The sophomore album by British alternative rock band Micheli and
the Macchiaioli, Tomboj de niaj patroj, cemented their place in
the history of goth music. Not only were the compositions darker
than that of the band's debut album Macchie Macchie, the heroin
addiction of lead singer Connie Cooper resulted in a bizarre
slurring of the already incomprehensible Esperanto lyrics.

Adding to the morbid feel of the album's nine tracks was a cover
that featured a 19th century photograph of the catacombs of Paris.
The title of the album translates from Esperanto to "graves of our
fathers" (although this is disputed by some experts).

A digitally remastered version of Tomboj de niaj patroj was
released in 2009 on the Paupers U.K. label.

Micheli and the Macchiaioli: Macchie Macchie

Micheli and the Macchiaioli were a British alternative rock band
active from 1978 to 1996. They are known for complex
instrumentation and atmospheric and often unintelligible vocals.

Though formed in the post-punk and New Wave era, Micheli and the
Macchiaioli continues to defy precise categorization. Their music
is recognized as being a key influence on ethereal goth.

Although the entire band earned critical praise, lead singer
Constance Cooper's unique vocals received the most attention.
Cooper sang almost entirely in Esperanto, an artificial language
created in the late 1870s and early 1880s. She is often confused
with Icelandic pop singer Björk and mistakenly referred to by the
name Micheli (both of which infuriated Cooper).

A digitally remastered version of the band's debut album Macchie
Macchie was released in 2006. It resulted in a lawsuit between
Cooper and record label Paupers U.K. over claims that another
vocalist was used to overdub some portions of the recording. The
label denied Cooper's allegations and the suit was eventually
dropped. Cooper committed suicide in 2008 following an
unsuccessful solo comeback attempt. The headline in The Sun read
"80s icon Micheli found dead at Blackfriars Tube."