Thursday, August 27, 2009

Bethany & Rufus - "900 Miles": Harmony In Diverse Musical Styles

Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia form a duo unlike any other. Rufus plays a five string electric cello that he invented. He plays with percussive rhythmic funkiness and Bethany sings in a down home bluesy bent. They mix jazz, funk, folk, and world music together and the resulting sound is truly unique.

Bethany & Rufus' 900 Miles -- musicdish

One of their releases is a song called "900 Miles." This tune is a great example of how these two musicians can mix styles. Where the lyrics and Bethany's tone affect a melancholy and ghostly feeling, Rufus' bass line is inescapably funky. One finds himself dancing to this ballad of a forlorn traveller. As Bethany sings, "if this train runs me right, I'll be home tomorrow night, 'cause I'm 900 miles from my home." A strange mix, to be sure, but Bethany and Rufus make it sound beautiful.

Along with this song comes a music video. The piece depicts both musicians slowly trekking down a long desolate railroad track and cuts to scenes of them playing together in a small cabin. The imagery captures the meaning of the song in an eery setting. It evokes a feeling of loneliness and desperation as Bethany sings of the train that will bear her home, a train that never seems to come.

- Review by Jon Peritz

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