Such a constant ache in me

Back from a long hiatus in posting! Anyway, I may have mentioned my habit of choosing one or two songs from the masses of albums I download, and letting the rest molder un-listened-to on my computer. If I haven't mentioned it, well... there it is. The plus side of the situation is that sometimes as I idly scroll through my iTunes library, I happen upon something quite nice.

That's what happened with "Complimentary Me" by Elizabeth and the Catapult, a Brooklyn-based trio. Ran across it today during some idle scrolling and was a fan from the get-go. The song's opening definitely sets the tone, with an upbeat harmonica/guitar intro that introduces the folksy, almost western feel (not unlike the stylings of London band Mumford and Sons).

It steadily gets better from there, with Elizabeth Ziman's positively lovely voice and the rollicking, toe-tapping choruses. Ziman's singing has this great clarity, with a slightly breathy edge that borders on that crack-y, riff-y, country-western vocal style (reminds me a little of Flroence Welch of Florence and the Machine). Her lyrics are sweetly perplexed, warmly sad, and altogether charming.

The only thing that bothers me about this song: in the context of the lyrics--"Oh dear me, what a strange peculiar thing that I should always see someone just like me"--doesn't she mean, Complementary Me? Hmm. We'll never know.

"Complimentary Me" by Elizabeth and the Catapult, from Taller Children (2009)

--A