While CBGBs may be a legendary punk club, it's far from an ideal venue for people who can actually play their instruments.  Cardboard walls combined with a tinfoil-and-insulation ceiling make for an acoustic engineer's nightmlare; everything blurs into a rumbling fog, with warbling from the tweeters to liven things  up.  If you're there for the Ramones or Green Day  this only adds to the dirty-ashtray charm.  For a band which relies on finesse and technical skill as much as raw power, it can be a huge obstacle.  Still, as Acts Magdalena takes the stage I have high hopes.  If anything can cut through CBGBs' sonic sludge, it's Christian Merry's voice.

"I want to swing with my wings behind me," Christian  sings sweetly over bassist's Rick Van Benschoten's  droning, organ pedal-like background, "fly like a  bird  of mirth."  Even at her most ethereal, there's always  an undercurrent of anger in Christian's singing, a feeling that things are about to explode.  I'm  impressed by how strong her voice is live, and by  the  band's skill.  After this show, Rick will be leaving for a brief tour as sound engineer for Laurie Anderson; guitarist Yuvall, stick bass player Lou Rossi and drummer Raul Vasquez are also professional studio musicians.

"Who you idolize is who you nail," Christian sings,  the hint of a snarl in her voice.  I look over at  the couple standing next to me and chatting away blithely. "Who you idolize..." Christian repeats, harder this  time.  I know what's coming as Raul, Lou and Rick pick up the pace.

"Who you idolize is who you nail!"

The couple next to me jump back, the ice cubes clinking in their drink.  That's a typical reaction  upon first hearing Christian's guttural growl.  Imagine Diamanda Galas at half-speed, maybe, or a shaman channeling something primal and enraged.  Christian stares straight ahead, chanting the line over and over.  Distortion swallows her words as the band plays behind her.  In an ideal environment it would be difficult to mike Christian's multioctave singing: here her low range blends in with the bass line until it's nearly indistinguishable.  It's a pity: one of the most impressive things about Acts Magdalena is how orderly their chaos is.  Christian may be growling, but she's growling on key and in perfect time with the band behind her, and enunciating every word.

"Bullet," Christian's ode to her childhood begins.  This is a much faster song, one which doesn't begin with any hint of sweetness.   Right from the start Christian is pissed off and lets you know about it.  This isn't the nuclear family, it's the thermonuclearfamily, an explosion of betrayed trust, pain and rage. "Just say you love me," she spits out like a rusty razor blade.  "Say it LOUD!"  Once againdistortion makes it difficult to suss out the lyrics,but Christian pulls it off by dint of raw force. "Bullet" also showcases Raul's drumming.  A drum machine  can keep a beat, but a live drummer can add power and momentum that simply does not come in a box: this is something which more bands should keep in mind.

With "I Might I May," and "Void of Culture," Acts Magdalena previews two new songs.  Both are straight-ahead rockers, giving Yuvall a chance to show  off his chops on guitar.  I can see why some critics have compared Christian to Grace Slick.  Both have  an eerie, otherworldly presence onstage; both can capture an audience's attention by staring straight ahead  and singing; both have operatic pipes.  I'd give  Christian the edge for sheer power and for her taste in  material: I can't imagine Christian singing "We  Built This City," nor can I imagine Grace pulling off the demonic shrieks with which Christian punctuates the  wall of sound.

"Low" ends things as they began, with thick, dueling bass lines beneath Christian's vocal.  It's  not a fast song, but it is all the more powerful for that.  As the drums and guitar join the bassists and propel things along, the edge returns to Christian's singing, until before you know it she's growling again.  The sound seems clearer now; it's a pity that the set is ending.

Acts Magdalena is a tight and professional outfit; most important, Rick and Christian are imaginative songwriters who are trying to create their own sound, not shoehorn it into some "genre" or "style."  In  the short run this may be a bug rather than a feature:  Acts Magdalena is more challenging than your standard saccharine synthpop release, and those who like their  music to fit easily defined categories may have a hard time placing Acts Magdalena.  Still, I can't imagine  any Industrial fan being unable to appreciate this band.  Christian's nightmlare images of child abuse and family violence are more frightening than anything Trent Reznor ever dreamed up, and the progressions and melodic structure show a knowledge of modern classical and avant-garde music which would do any Rivethead band proud.

Acts Magdalena
www.actsmagdalena.com
www.mp3.com/actsmagdalena

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