Mary Timony

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Celebrates the release of Ex Hex

Friday, April 22

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More About

• Mary Timony
• Devin O'Campo

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Those put off by the progressive-rock modes of singer Mary Timony's previous disc, The Golden Dove, can rest easy: Ex Hex (her first for East Bay label Lookout!) is a return to the thorny, stripped-down, slightly arty punk rock of her days in Helium. Featuring two musicians -- Timony on guitars and keys, Devin O'Campo on bass and percussion -- Hex makes a sparse, tense, tightly wound clamor (somewhat reminiscent of the Fall), and boasts a barely contained anguish at its core. Timony's plaintive, slightly flat, innocence-lost voice belies the cautious optimism of her lyrics ("Let's go for a ride/ I'm a fighter, not a bride," from "W.O.W."; "Call a truce a deuce, this life is rough/ Be strong, hang tough," from "Friend to J.C."). Her smoldering, stark, and surly guitar tone sounds like a coiled king cobra ready to strike. Her songs are either midtempo or dolefully paced (the latter a bit overplayed), while the gloomy vibe is alleviated somewhat by the shimmering timbres of the keyboards and the occasional vibraphone. Though not exactly fun, Ex Hex displays an edgy, cathartic charm.