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Paloma is the Spanish word for 'Dove'. "La maldición, ésta
es un buen álbum!" is the Spanish for 'Damn, this is a fine album!'
At least it is according to the AltaVista BabelFish translator - although
when I translated it back it came out as 'The curse, this one is a good album!'
Oh well maybe we should just stick to English, a language I have at least
40% mastered.
 Paloma, the band, are a Canadian secret waiting to change the world. Dripping,
sexy, and above all, jazz vocals over inspired part man, part machine, lazy
dance music. This is music Sade wishes she was making, retro yet relevant.
Opener ‘Cancion De La Paloma’ gets the mood right immediately as singer,
Coco Love Alcorn, brings breathless ‘little girl lost’ vocals over music
that sways like smoke and slaps like a woman scorned. As with the rest of
the album the song is sexy, even when it isn’t trying to be. Coco has a
voice that could make the most devout monk take an extra long, extra cold
shower before starting his chanting.
Next up is ‘Chocolate Cake’ which hints at the indulgence of eating such
decadent fare. Or as Coco moans, 'sure do like chocolate', any Freudians
in the audience should probably join that monk in the shower. Well not at
the same time, unless that’s your thing of course.
 Track three is my favorite, the inspired ‘Pretty Little Girl’. Featuring
jazz scat-type vocals, a wry set of lyrics, and haunting music, if this isn’t
featured in a Hollywood movie within the next twelve months I will eat my
hat. Personally I think it would be great ironic background music to some
serial killer flick when he picks his victims, but it has been said I need
therapy.
The album continues on, never resting on its laurels, each track different
enough to stand on its own, but similar enough for it to really flow as an
album. If you imagine a scale where Sade is on one end and Portishead are
on the other, then Paloma would be exactly in the middle. More mainstream
song construction than the latter more inventive musically than the former.
This album has quickly become one of my favorite chill out albums of all
time. An inspired effort from one sexy jazz vocalist and a bunch of very
talented musicians. If the name of Paloma is not very well known by the end
of 2002 I want a report on my desk explaining why not. Buy the album people.
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