Los Angeles, California: The late Melanie described “Aloha Lucifer” as “Such a happy song, because even the Devil probably needs to take a summer vacation.”
Well yes. Especially with Halloween just around the corner.
Sadly, Melanie did not live to record a full studio version of the song. But she did tape a great “live in the studio” version, and as the end of October draws closer and we find ourselves missing already those hazy days of summer, what better way of kicking back on the beach than to hear what transpired when Charming Disaster turned their attention towards it.
Or, if you prefer, here’s what happens when one of the most innovative singer-songwriters of the last 50 years met one of the most spellbinding acoustic goth-folk-cabaret duos ever to walk the earth.
Five albums old (with a sixth underway), Charming Disaster were formed in Brooklyn, NY, in 2012 by Ellia Bisker and Jeff Morris. Best described as a cross between Edward Gorey’s drawings, Tim Burton’s movies and the murder ballads of Americana tradition, their music is packed with death, crime, myth, magic, folklore, science, and the occult.
Again, who better to bring fresh life to “Aloha Lucifer”?
“We really thought of this as a collaboration with Melanie,” say Charming Disaster, “and we approached the song a bit the way we do when we collaborate with each other as songwriters, which is to say: what do we think this song needs, how can we best serve it and make it shine?
“The original version of ‘Aloha Lucifer,’ as Melanie performed it live in 2020, had a classic folk-style chord progression that we thought would be interesting to revisit and reinvent.
“To give the song a new sound and make it a bit more unexpected, we found a different chord progression that still fit under Melanie's original vocal melody -- which was sort of like solving a puzzle, or turning the music 90 degrees. It was exciting to bring something new to her song in this way. Her phrasing and lyrical style are so unique and sometimes whimsical, and we really wanted to support that.”
Hear “Aloha Lucifer” here: https://orcd.co/melaniecharmingdisaster_alohalucifer
“Aloha Lucifer” is not Charming Disaster’s sole contribution to Halloween this year. A three song EP fittingly titled Dance Me to the End of Bela Lugosi’s Lovesong will be along in time for the big day, and the duo have also lined up a string of gigs to coincide.
Oct 25: Modern Art, Lancaster, PA
Oct 26: Potter’s Craft Cider, Charlottesville, VA
Oct 27: The Basement, Richmond, VA
Oct 30: The Church Cantina, Tacoma, WA
Oct 31: Belltown Yacht Club, Seattle, WA
Nov 1: Turn! Turn! Turn!, Portland, OR
Nov 2: The Hybrid, Eugene, OR
Nov 3: The Brewstation and Coast Fork Feed, Cottage Grove, OR
Nov 16: Dartkside New Jersey Art & Oddities Market, Edison, NJ
October 11 also sees the release of the album Make A Little Spark by Ellia’s side project, The Funkrust Brass Band, the 20-piece brass-punk ensemble for which she is lyricist and main vocalist.
