From the peanut gallery

www.Taxi.com(Review of Sandra)

style: incredibly distinctive singer/songwriter material that recalls artists like Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson (smile period) etc. melody: very memorable from start to finish. has an evocative, haunting quality. structure: flows smoothy from start to finish. feels very satisfying emotionally. lyric: the lyric sounds very personal, very sincere. Your voice is incredibly distinctive. Love the way in which you've arranged the backing vocals. Overall: Michelle- this is an incredibly compelling song and performance. The song has an ethereal, dreamlike quality that is both a product of your beautiful vocal delivery and the song's simple, unobtrusive porduction aesthetic. love the way you've arranged the vocals, in particular how you support your normal sounding voice with hushed, whispered undertones. The strings provide an evocative counterpoint to the vocal melody and both work hand in hand to create the poignant feel that pervades the entire arrangement. Your stylistic approach is not quite as unusual as someone like Joanna Newsome, but you have definately sidestepped a typical approach for something that sounds very personal,very distinctive.

Jennifer Layton, Indie-Music.com(Review of The Me Shell)

Michelle Dumond is a free-spirited gypsy musician with the soul of a jazz singer and the sexual playfulness of a burlesque performer. Bob Dylan would love her. Rufus Wainwright would drag her onstage with him. Leonard Cohen and Shakira would team up to adopt her. She has the musical skills to establish credibility with a more artsy crowd and the earthiness and humor to make her more accessible to people like me who just love music. She can convey all kinds of moods with that husky, alluring, commanding voice. She can sing the fun “Bathtub Rag” about soaking in the tub and suddenly fog up the bathroom mirror by crooning invitingly, “So take off your clothes and wet your toes.” She can handle a serious issue with a whimsical approach (the opener “Humanity”). She can also dim the lights, as she does in the middle of this CD, and turn into a classically-inspired dark gothic composer. “Sandra” and “Au Revoir” are orchestral tapestries of cello, piano, violin, and sweeping melodic drama. I could almost touch the sound – it’s burgundy velvet. After it flowed over me and left me very still, Dumond wisely ended on an up note with “Sick on Christmas,” a wry yet jingling tune. She can do anything. She can sing anything, play anything, and seduce anyone. Go ahead and give in.

Kindah Mardam Bey , Lucid Forge.com(Review of The Me Shell)

LUCID FORGE INTERVIEW
An ethereal being is about to flow out of Vancouver and you could be the first to find out about her. Michelle Dumond is one of those music gems that gets discovered by some record producer. She is a correlating image of great Canadian female artists, strong and interesting vocals, multi-talented musician, and unique but compelling lyrics. Dumond can laugh at herself and fill her well-orchestrated songs with whimsy. So on a cold winter’s day in January, Dumond sat down and told me all about her musical inspirations and endeavors. Her debut collection The Me Shell is a storyteller’s songbook, and just like that ethereal being she is, we have discovered a pearl inside the shell.

How long have you been singing for?

What child doesn’t sing

Seeing the spring?

I began to “train” or rather, “untrain” my voice from its conditioned tensions in 2000 during a stint at Vancouver Film School. I continued with a number of teachers, Cinda Ann of the Voice Studio (Vancouver) and Kristin Linklater’s book Freeing the Natural Voice, most notably.

How did being in Yellowknife during your formative years affect your career?

Yellowknife is the nature connection, the silence of vast concrete-less space, not silent at all, really, but full of nature’s music, imprinted me deeply.

Now you’re in Vancouver. What’s the music scene like in Vancouver?

There are so many great songs coming out of this area! Must be the trees and the oceans. There are many levels to any given “scene”, the strata that I’m floating around in is full of beautiful musicians and uplifting songs. Of course, there are things within this community that are a little disturbing, luckily paying for beer is balanced by great venues like Rime.

Was making a CD a natural progression for you?

It seemed the only thing to do, really, with the songs. I was always moving towards recording a CD from the beginning of the musical journey; so, yes, a natural progression.

Tell me what the title of your CD, The Me Shell, besides a play on words, symbolizes?

I have never consciously sat down and said, “I’m going to write a song” or “I want to write songs”. Songs spontaneously began arising en masse in 2000. I see trickles of it in my childhood, little poems and ditties. My perception is that the songs happen, that they are like pearls floating within what I consider “me”. That makes me a shell of me, full of songs, which I see as pearls floating in the me, me, me sea.

Tell me why your songs are “revolutionary lullabies”, as you promote?

Our music has a harmonically rich, melodically strong, tapestral quality that is both stimulating (lyrically, energetically) and soothing. I felt that “revolutionary lullabies” conveys these contrasting moods.

Where do you get inspiration from for your unusual subject matter on your songs?

Anything that touches off a fire inside triggers a song. Or huge tracks of emotional life experience will suddenly coalesce into a song.

Is it easier to create the lyrics and then go to the piano and compose or vice versa?

Lyrics and melody come together, then I plunk out harmonies that feel right. Right harmonies always have a certain, “ah! That’s what I want to hear!” feeling.

Where do you want your music career to go?

Musically I want to keep growing and exploring, Indian music beckons strongly. I’m learning the cello, continuing to play with others. Wanting to tour and connect with people across the globe.

Who are your musical influences?

Right now? Django Reinhart and Stephane Grapelli, not that I play anything like that, but their music brings my feet and heart to life! Loving Yo-yo Ma’s Brazilian CD, Brazilian music in general. Deva Premal’s music, mantras, the presence she brings is incredibly inspiring. Karen Carpenter was my earliest vocal love, followed by Nina Simone.

You have a new EP out “Into Orbit” as Two Cosmic, tell me a little about that. . .
It’s actually not new, it was my first exploration into the recording world. Two Cosmic was a short-lived performing project which never released any CDs. Into Orbit was the first EP on my label, Fuzzy Records. Oh my goodness. It’s a little embarrassing to listen to some of it! Other parts are fun. It’s available digitally only now, itunes, Napster and the like, unless you’re desperate to have it, I can make a few copies!

What do you think is the biggest problem Canadians are facing today?
Individually taking responsibility for our use of plastics, overconsumption and personal stress levels.

What is you favourite Music? Artists? Songs?

Top songs:
1) The Game (Roch’s song, so amazingly amazing I can’t even think of intelligent adjectives)
2) Lucky are We (a new one of mine, hee hee, always so in love with the new ones)
3) Hope (Klatuu)
4) I, Me, Mine (George Harrison)- fun to play, so true.
5) Look At Me (John Lennon)- perfect lyric.

Pennies Sinking.. (Review of Wishful Thinking)
Quirky pleasant 60s style folk song that reminds me of The Mammas and Poppas mixed with Eddie Brickell or something...

The chorus really grew on me as the song went on, had a definite charm and 'the bottom of the well' was a really nice hook..

You've got such a beautiful, honey-toned smooth voice reminiscent of Karen Carpenter tho, you could probably sing anything and make it sound good..

The 'someone's wishes are drifting away' was a lovely ending and my favorite part of the song.. Like you're suddenly revealing the underlying sadness that's REALLY at the root of things beneath the polite whimsical facade...

Extra Credit: Female Vocals.

- Stevenson
Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Sophisticated. (Review of Wishful Thinking)
Attractive, sophisticated vocal.
Same applies to the lyrics. I liked it very much, this is an act I would go to see. Only negative, if you can call it that, is that their emphasis has to be on live work because radio seems to have little interest in material like this, unless it was written thirty years ago by Judy Collins or Carole King.
Reviewed by: stvc from Buffalo, New York

wishful thinkin ... (Review of Wishful Thinking)
great intro!! piano into the guitar ... and the vocals kick in.. brought me back a little to what real music used to sound like. great storyline to this one. i really like this.
great vocals. theyre right on time .. and the bass guitar really carries this song .. groovin!
Reviewed by: ShawnZ from Lenoxville, Pennsylvania

Awesomely Understated (Review of Ode 2 U)
Loved the beginning, very understated, so much so that it filled my ears with your heavenly voice. I absolutely love your voice, did you put your own background vocals or was that a different singer, if so she was awesome also. The piano playing was perfectly done to keep in the mood of this song. I will be hearing you on CMT.
Reviewed by: Deadhead38 from Lodi, California

Hot Hot country sound!!!! (Review of Ode 2 U)
Hot vocals that gives the listener a lot to chose from. The back up vocals kick in and gives the lead singer a sound that stands out to keep my interest. There is a band sound that kicks a steady beat with the drums and keys. The guitar work is a soft sound of country. There is a nice break in the song with the key boards that I like. I like the story line of the lyrics!!!! So positive, we all can use more of this!!!! Good job!!!!
Reviewed by: dorap75 from New Florence, Missouri

A Nice Flow (Review of Dreams)
If I could write a revue under fifteen words for this song it would have been much easier.

Plain and simple, it is a beautiful song. It's almost a shame to go into why it's so good, but I will anyway!

The mood of the song is superb. It's like a sad old Vaudville song, caught in the rain with a broken heart and shoes that are way too big. And every other part of this song just adds to that.

Vocally it is beautiful, with the melody tripping over itself and tumbling along, the piano making me think of run-down ragtime playing, and all these beautifully written and put together sounds add up to a great, great track.

Extra Credit: Female Vocals, Drums, Keyboards/Organ/Piano, Production, Lyrics, Melody, Beat, Mood, Originality, Coolest Chill-Out Track.
Reviewed by: Ben Larson Albany/Perth, Western Australia, Australia