Artist: Non Credo
Label: Self-released
Release: 1988
Rating: 4.5/5
Non Credo kicked off their career with the album Reluctant Hosts in 1988. It’s the record that starts the long, fruitful partnership between Joe Berardi and Kira Vollman. Only two more albums followed that debut, but when you’ve got this kind of quality, quantity doesn’t matter so much. Reluctant Hosts was impossible to get hold of for a long time, but luckily it was reissued in 2000 and a few copies are still out there. If you get the chance, I suggest you grab this album, because it’s a gem that will satisfy most fans of experimental music.
The first half of the album has eight vocal songs and one composed instrumental, while the second half is mostly instrumental improvisations. All the vocal tracks are excellent, with the usual offbeat and fun lyrics courtesy of Kira Vollman. Stylistically the songs roam from cabaret to pop (at least by Non Credo standards), and of course there’s plenty of experimental stuff too, the stuff Non Credo became famous for with Happy Wretched Family. On the instrumental “Ask the Bearded Lady” (fitting title) you can even catch some circus music influences.
The second half of the album has songs without conventional vocals, but Kira still stirs up chaos with her vocal antics. Here you can hear Non Credo playing practically every genre under the sun – jazz, classical, avant-garde, ambient,…. It’s like they wanted to show off what they can do. Look at us, look what we’re capable of! But with Non Credo I see nothing wrong with that, because every segment sounds like a natural step on from the one before, and nothing feels forced.
Kira Vollman’s lyrics are once again outstanding. She builds her own world of black humor. She plays with themes that are downright tragic and makes them comical. “Looking in the Window” and “Thank You Mommy” stand out most in this respect. I can’t think of anyone else who could present such tragic and morbid subjects in such a humorous yet still intelligent way.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe Non Credo are only two people. Sure, there are some guests here, but Joe and Kira do most of the work. Joe on percussion won me over the most, but I was also impressed by the keyboards and, of course, Kira’s vocals. This might be their most eclectic release when it comes to style, since they switch between genres like classical, jazz, avant-garde, cabaret, pop,… without breaking a sweat.
The only place where Non Credo come across as inexperienced is the track sequencing. All the songs with lyrics are stacked at the start of the album, while the second half holds the more ambient and experimental pieces. They fixed that on the next two albums, but even here there’s a good reason for the layout. Everything on the second half is actually bonus tracks that originally existed only as backing for some films.
Despite that one flaw (which isn’t even really a flaw), Non Credo’s debut is superb. You can’t hear any lack of experience, the music is well thought out and smart (as always). Once again the lyrics stand out, and so does the wacky (and serious) music. Joe and Kira have made a wonderful album with Reluctant Hosts, one that’s impossible to pin down to a single genre. The record shows the drive of musicians eagerly exploring what music can do, and the skills of seasoned composers. You simply have to hear Non Credo!
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Non Credo started off their recording career in 1988 with Reluctant Hosts, an album that would mark a long and artistically successful relationship between Joe Berardi and Kira Vollman. There have only been two other albums after this debut, but if you have quality like this, quantity isn’t that important. Reluctant Hosts was long out of print, but it was luckily rereleased in 2000 and there are still a few copies floating around here and there. If you have a chance, pick this album up as it’s a true gem for fans of experimental music.
The first part of the album contains 8 vocal tracks and one composed instrumental, while the second part is filled with mostly improvisations (I think). All the vocal tracks are great, with traditionally twisted and fun lyrics by Kira Vollman. The styles vary from almost cabaret songs, to what sounds like almost pop (for Non Credo) and experimental parts that Non Credo would later become renowned for on their Happy Wretched Family album. There’s also a circus-like atmosphere on the instrumental “Ask the Bearded Lady” (a fitting title).
The second part of the album is comprised of songs without any conventional vocals, but Kira does create some havoc with her vocal experiments. In this part of the record, we can hear Non Credo basically doing any genre you please – from jazz, classical, avant-garde, ambient. It’s almost as if they were trying to show off their credentials. Look at us! This is what we can do! But I see nothing wrong with this, at least not with Non Credo, because every segments sounds like a natural progression of the previous one and nothing seems forced.
Kira Vollman’s lyrics are again spectacular. She creates her own world of dark humour, where she takes sometimes extremely tragic events and puts a humorous twist on them. The standout tracks in this department are (for me) “Looking in the Window” and “Thank You Mommy”. I can’t think of anyone else who is able to create something so funny, yet thoughtful from a theme that is basically very sombre.
It is sometimes hard to believe that Non Credo is only a duo. True, there are some guest musicians here, but most of the work is done by Joe and Kira. I am particularly impressed by Joe’s work on percussion, the keyboard parts (from both) and naturally Kira’s vocals. Perhaps, this is their most eclectic work to date in terms of style, as they seem to effortlessly switch between so many different genres, like classical, jazz, avant-garde, cabaret, pop,…
The only part of the album that Non Credo’s inexperience is evident is in choosing the song sequence. They put all the tracks with the lyrics in the first part of Reluctant Hosts, while the second part contains some ambient and experimental passages. On their two following releases they would remedy this and combine the tracks more wisely, but there’s an explanation for why the sequence is like it is here as well. All the songs from the second part are basically bonus tracks that were recorded as soundtracks to a few movies.
Apart from the one shortcoming I mentioned (for which there’s still a good reason), Non Credo’s debut is nothing short of excellent. There are no signs of immaturity, the music is well crafted and cleaver as always. The lyrics again stand out, as does the wacky (and serious) music. Joe and Kira made an incredible album with Reluctant Hosts, one that transcends genre classification. This album shows the enthusiasm of musicians eager to explore new musical worlds and the craftsmanship of experienced composers. Non Credo has to be heard to be believed!
Lineup
Joseph Berardi – drums, percussion, keyboards, accordion, cello
Kira Vollman – vocals, bass, clarinet, keyboards
Guests: Jesse Jacobson – guitar, bass on Thank You Mommy, Jerome Faulkner – synthesizers on Thank You Mommy, Bill Rhea – violin on Beguiled
Production
Non Credo
Track list
1. Why?
2. Tell Me What You Dream
3. Looking In The Windows
4. Ask The Bearded Lady
5. Beguiled
6. Stiff We Walk
7. Hair Of Dog
8. Descent Point
9. Thank You Mommy
10. Dint Of Thrift
11. Tied To The Mast
12. Filare
13. Gumption
14. Death Of A Swan
15. Cleavage And Pearls
16. A Bed For Birds
17. Forks & Spoons
18. Oval Dip
19. Traces Of Ether
20. Scent Of Night Sweats
21. Flatfoot
22. Gumshoe
23. Liquid Measures
24. Stigmata H2O
