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Elizabeth & the Catapult

Who? Greenwich Village songbird and pianist Elizabeth Ziman is the main cog of moody, indie pop outfit Elizabeth & the Catapult. Core band members Dan Molad (drums), Pete Lalish (guitar), and Matt Wigton (bass) round out the group, though at times its numbers swell with the additional horns, strings and other orchestral elements that add layers and depth to an already lush sound. The band’s self-titled EP, recorded in a basement in the middle of sub-zero Boston, arrived late last year, while a studio full-length is slated for a fall release.

What’s the Deal? It’s tempting to toss E&TC into the Norah Jones piano-driven pop pile, particularly because of their common New York connection. But those comparisons soon wilt away in favor of influences including Laura Nyro and Fiona Apple as the group utilizes elastic rhythms and darker subject matter that give its songs a darker, slow burn resonance. The singsong swing of “Momma’s Boy” makes it one of the more tuneful kiss-off songs in recent memory, and it’s made even more potent by the smoldering regret of “My Goodbye.” The high-spirited “Perfectly Perfect” gives a glimpse of what could be in store for the group’s long-in-coming debut LP. Fans of Lavender Diamond and Feist should be head over heels in no time.

Fun Fact: While Ziman’s first musical memories are of reinterpreting Debussy tunes on an upright piano as a child, one of her first big breaks came when she sang backup vocals for Naughty By Nature at a Special Olympics performance.

Now Hear This:
Elizabeth & the Catapult – “Momma’s Boy” DOWNLOAD MP3

On the Web:
Elizabeth & the Catapult at MySpace
elizabethandthecatapult.com

Talk: Is Elizabeth & the Catapult ‘perfectly perfect?’

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