By: Vandal Truong
Rating: 9.5/11

During a time in music when singers are tabloid fodder and virtually every song is on the life support system of Auto-Tune, creating an intelligent, soulful rock album seems almost doomed to wind up in some radio DJ's trash-bin or, at the very least, commercial suicide. But every now and then a ferocious little band comes along and challenges what is acceptable on the musical landscape. Meet Cavalier Rose, a Brooklyn-based foursome that's high octane, jazzy- rock. Their six-song debut EP, entitled Primary Colors, is a collection of hyper beats over melancholy harmonies.

Cavalier Rose is led by vocalist and pianist Heather Christian. An established solo artist who has played throughout New York in venues like Joe's Pub and Rockwood Music Hall, Christian knows how to craft a song around her unique voice. She transforms the ballad "Lamplight" into a dark lullaby; a simple lyric like, "Keep the lamplight burning,” becomes a vivid, darkly beautiful journey of heartache. On song "Sparrow,” the band turns the lights down low and creates a smoky, after hours jazz lounge. All the tracks have a very hypnotic, slow burn feel, but none more so than the title track, "Primary Colors," where the band seems to pull out all the stops, from the high hats and drums to the swooping, slashing guitar slides.

The band took an innovative approach to recording Primary Colors, choosing White Gate Farm, an early nineteenth century sheep farm on the Connecticut River. Very fitting for an album that is both eccentric and haunting. Throughout the EP, Christian's girlish shrieks and sassy breakdowns make it difficult to comprehend all the lyrics. Her vocals are a mixture of Mazzy Starr's Hope Sandoval and Toni Childs. But she is striving for more, utilizing her voice as another instrument in the band, elevating each song into something innovative and bold. She is backed by the talented Gibbs Drinon (guitar), Chase McGowan (bass) and Sarah Tomek, a drummer who knows how to crank out the beats and let loose in the confines of each song, especially during a live performance. Cavalier Rose achieves what so many bands struggle but fall short of doing: creating a sound both hard rock and full of empathy.  Cavalier Rose is giving away their EP, Primary Colors, for free at their website, www.cavalierrose.com.