Albums by this artist

Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By (2001)

Lovage

Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By

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» GRANT PURDUM | STAFF WRITER

Lovage Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By 75 Ark, 2001 RiYL: The Automator, Mike Patton, Prince, Beck

Sure, everyone knows that in 2001, Gorillaz tore up popular culture with its quirky self-titled debut, and that Mike Patton once again declared himself a force to be reckoned with on several new projects. What Carson Daly and grizzled Faith No More fans won't tell you is that in 2001, Patton and members from the Gorillaz also collaborated on a magnificent concept album creatively dubbed Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By, and it's essential listening for anyone sick and tired of run-of-the-mill records.

Two parts mellow-gold trip-hop and one part Barry White, Music delicately blends the chanteuse vibes of Jennifer Charles (of Elysian Fields fame) with the surprisingly soothing vocals provided by the always cheeky Patton. The amorous, sometimes hilarious dialogue that ensues is a seismic accomplishment in pillow talk. For every supple Patton flirtation ("you are the circus"), Charles comes back with a seductive quip of her own ("I am the freak"). When Patton is lovey, Charles is dovey; when Patton longingly calls out for companionship ("I was drivin' in my car late at night all alone"), Charles reaffirms her affection ("I'll take a life of crime, aahhhh, to make you mine").

As the (in spirit, at least) lovelorn lovers hiss sweet nothings to and fro, a plethora of sedated, swooning beats connect one love letter to the next, accompanied by noseflute and harpischord (courtesy of SweetP), along with other assorted instruments and turntable delvings by Kid Koala.

Fans of Portishead circa Dummy will appreciate the fluid, dreamy orchestration, and Charles' soulful fem-croons blend evenly with the rhythms in a vein not far removed from the enchanting style of Skye from Morcheeba. Overseeing every digital bleep and chirp is Dan "The Automator" Nakamura (masquerading behind his Nathaniel Merriweather persona), the underground kingpin behind the unearthly Dr. Octagon and other sleek projects.

Whether you speak hip-hop or trip-hop dialect, Lovage speak the international language of l'amour, and manage to crank a superior record out of what could have easily been a cheesy concept. And it's so much cheaper than Viagra!

GRANT PURDUM | Among the newest wave of NATN contributors, Grant Purdum bides his time at Washington State University.