Mary Timony
Ex Hex Since Helium disbanded seven years ago, Mary Timony’s solo career has taken a path as fanciful as the fairies and unicorns she used to sing about. Following on 2002’s erratic collaboration with Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse), The Golden Dove, her latest record, Ex Hex, is a minimal affair with drummer Devin Ocampo (of the Medications). Though the context of just drums and guitar (with minimal keyboards) is a new one for Timony, she manages to impart the same mix of kinetic enthrall and otherworldly strangeness. Ex Hex is a lean, slithery record. Gone are the baroque overtones of Mountains and the prog motifs of The Golden Dove; in their place are wiry six-string chimes paired to Timony’s curt commentary delivered bone dry. Such starkness brings out her unique vocal timbre, a combination of sharp edges and pillowy softness. Echoes of her past haunt the record, especially within the Sonic Youthfulness of “Friend to J.C.” and “Silence,” the former showing some frayed tunings. The direct route the record takes amounts to one of Timony’s strongest records from beginning to end. She’s reached a new height and she didn’t have to go through Middle Earth to get there. —Stephen Slaybaugh from Columbus Alive |
