CINDY LEE - Model Express LP

Highly recommended.

Cindy Lee, the performance and songwriting vehicle of Canadian artist Patrick Flegel, previously stunned listeners with Act Of Tenderness, a heart-wrenching statement informed by the noirish core of celebrity, and has continued to enchant with every album, including the startling What’s Tonight To Eternity.

Model Express originally appeared as a self-released edition of 100 gold cassettes. The arch, filmic drama of Cindy Lee’s songwriting—realized with keyboards, guitars, aching voice and collaged, lo-fi production—traverses a wide range of emotional and sonic terrain.

The red velvet psych-pop of “What Can I Do” gives way to the fluid “Diamond Ring” like radio bursts from space. Model Express finds Flegel at both their most experimental and immediately melodic, and this first-time vinyl release recognizes the collected tracks as a pillar in the Cindy Lee catalogue.

Cindy Lee (who uses the gender neutral pronoun they) is a drag persona drawing on suburban closet queens and mid-century divas. In keeping with Flegel’s interest in the faultlines of identity, gender expression, performance and media, Model Express delivers an intense and diverse set of unforgettable songs.

Side A is a cold fog of ghostmusic draped in cobwebs, mainly centered around a spooked-out synth that buzzes and hums gnarly black laser damage into the eyes of the possessed alien angel soul singer. No wave guitar freak outs clutter the frontside of the music on the title-track as Cindy works through another exorcism. "Who You Want I'll Be" is the newest goth punk anthem of our times. The sedate melody "What Can I Do" mixed with black grime atmospherics makes for a classic vibe Cindy could keep on busting out time and again to keep us happy.

Side B is more melody-driven and resembles the girl group pop of the 50s (there's even a Carter Family cover), but remains darkened, doomed and bloodied as if beaten with a black club by a galactic mutant hitman. Legitimate underground music.