Steal This Track: Lady Parts, Port Au Prince and Prime Element
By Eryc Eyl | February 28th, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Lady Parts are Katie Gold (left) and Becky Christian. Photo by Nic Borrusch.
Welcome to another edition of Steal This Track, your weekly opportunity to pilfer great Colorado music from Reverb. This week, we have brand new tracks from Denver cello-loving chicks Lady Parts, the newly formed Port Au Prince and rapidly ascending hip-hop trio Prime Element. Let’s steal some tracks.
Katie Gold and Becky Christian are Lady Parts, and though the name might sound vaguely dirty, there’s nothing unclean about the duo’s richly crafted chamber pop. Multi-instrumentalist Gold creates simple, layered textures with guitar, piano, harpsichord and other tones, while Christian, a cellist since early childhood, adds the warmth of her instrument, but where that combination could land in the tepid mud of familiarity, Lady Parts instead stirs up a rich, peaty loam that sprouts some unexpectedly lovely flora.
Lady Parts’ debut album, “So It Goes,” is a treasure chest of well-written and beautifully performed nuggets that aren’t quite like anything you’ve heard before. Listening to the record while leafing through the exquisite handmade packaging in which it rests is like rummaging through boxes in your grandfather’s attic — yellowed wedding photos, pin-up calendars, newspaper clippings, a dried corsage. The pair’s quirky songwriting — with its melodic twists, eccentric lyrics and organic structures — is enhanced by Gold’s unique phrasing and the not-always-dulcet timbre of her voice. You might hear reverberations of the history of artsy female performers — from Regina Spektor back to Tori Amos and back further to Kate Bush — but there’s something new here too. It’s too soon to tell what Lady Parts is capable of, but “So It Goes” is likely to end up on some best-of lists this year. Steal “Robot” and you’ll understand why. Then go buy “So It Goes” from the band’s website. This is one case in which we highly recommend getting the physical CD.

Cover art for Hollow Bones, the debut EP from Denver's Port Au Prince
Though the quintet has quite a pedigree, Port Au Prince’s debut EP, “Hollow Bones,” is best appreciated on its own merits. The creative interplay among these experienced musicians is undeniable, and the very different songwriting and performing aesthetics of Jason Cain and Hunter Dragon collide in sublime and surprising ways. The four-song EP only hints at Port Au Prince’s direction, and with the band making its live debut at South By Southwest, bigger things are sure to come later this year. For now, however, you can pick up “Hollow Bones” for whatever price you deem fair via Bandcamp. Before you do, you might want to steal our personal favorite, “Jesus Kathleen.”

Prime Element is: Es Nine (right), Cysko Rokwell and A.V.I.U.S. Photo by Marika Garcia.
Speaking of familiar faces with new names, we’re delighted to share with you the first official release from Denver hip-hop crew Prime Element. Formerly known as 3 the Hardway, the trio of DJ Cysko Rokwel, producer/emcee Es Nine and emcee A.V.I.U.S. changed its name last year after signing to California-based Kamikazi Airlines and discovering that their previous name was already spoken for.
Though dizzying opportunities await the newly christened group — tours in Europe and Asia, licensing deals, re-releasing “Set In Stone,” the album that made 3 the Hardway’s reputation — the three young men of Prime Element are most excited about getting down to the business of making music. Last Tuesday, the group released a three-song single (yes, we realize the number’s there are completely illogical), its first under the Prime Element moniker. “Do I Belong,” “Where You Are” and “Think of the Day” all contain the clear-headed rapping, boom-bap beats and funky grooves that have been the threesome’s signature.
Though it’s plenty strong on its own, the lead song, “Do I Belong,” gets a lyrical boost from Apathy (of the Demigodz crew and Army of the Pharaohs) and a major bass boost from local thunderbroom street sweeper Casey Sidwell (of John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light, Matthew Bandy, VibeSquad and countless others). Steal it for yourself and hear what what happens, then pop over to Prime Element’s Bandcamp page to steal all three high-quality tracks, along with instrumentals and radio edits.
If you like Steal This Track, you’re gonna love Steal This Track: a Reverb Dance Party at the Hi-Dive. We’re taking over the South Broadway indie rock institution on the last Thursday of every month with special guests, giveaways, drink specials and more. In the later hours, DJ Savior Breath (a.k.a. Reverb’s own Eryc Eyl) turns the shindig into a pants-dropping dance party. And just like Steal This Track, it’s absolutely free. You won’t want to miss it.
Please note that downloads offered via Steal This Track are intended to whet your appetite, and are NOT CD-quality recordings. If you want those, please support the artists by buying their music and/or seeing them live.
If you’re a band or musician ready to expose your fresh sounds to the readers of Reverb, email your tracks — along with any interesting facts about them, as well as a photo or album art — to Eryc Eyl for consideration.
Eryc Eyl is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years. Check out Steal This Track every Monday for local music you can HEAR, and the Mile High Makeout every Friday. Against his mother’s advice, Eryc has also been known to tweet. You can also follow Steal This Track on Twitter. Sorry, Mom.


