Orville Peck expands his palette on Stampede vol. 1, a still hot six-song mini-album. The country esthete, whose cinematic style we discovered with songs like Dead of Night, The Curse of the Blackened Eye Or C’mon Baby, Cry does not deny its roots, but reaches left and right thanks to collaborations that are most often inspired.
He cracks a big smile like that from the opening with a reprise of Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other, a song by Ned Sublette which mocks the stereotype of the cowboy in chaps and boots, which he associates with repressed homoerotic desire. Orville Peck, the most openly queer of the Stetson singers, sings it here with none other than Willie Nelson, figure of theoutlaw countrywho himself took it up in the wake of the film Brokeback Mountain almost 20 years ago.
He then continued with a duet with Midland (The Hurtin’ Kindcatchy), another with Nathaniel Rateliff (Conquer the Heart) and sings Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) with a still vigorous Elton John. The pop side of country also suits him very well. How Far Will We Take It?in tandem with Noah Cyrus (Miley’s little sister) who has a powerful, if somewhat generic, voice.
However, we feel that the masked cowboy is getting more off on Miénteme (with Bu Cuarón, daughter of director Alfonso Cuarón), piece which borrows from mariachi. Here, Orville Peck is clearly making his mark: epic arrangements and an unstoppable pop chorus, this is the perfect summer tune!
The piece de resistance of this short disc, however, is Chemical Sunset, sung with Allison Russell, rising star – and also queer – of Americana, born in Montreal. Orville Peck, whose love of musicals is well known, explores the world of cabaret à la Kurt Weil in this fiery and highly dramatic duo. These six little songs make you look forward to the July 5 concert on Place des Festivals as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Extract of Chemical Sunset
Country
Stampede vol. 1
Orville Peck
Warner Music