AU REVOIR SIMONE ///
INTERVIEW MARISA BRICKMAN AND TOM GRIFFITHS ///
PHOTOGRAPHY BRENDAN DUGAN ///
INKBLOTS SOME WEIRD DUTCH WEBSITE ///

Let's try to think of something that feels as good as Au Revoir Simone's music. Clean sheets fresh from the wash? Riding a Ferris wheel on a breezy summer day? How about the taste of warm chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven? Well, whatever your simple pleasure may be, you'll get that similar feeling when you hear the songs of Au Revoir Simone. On both the record and during live shows, you can't help but get a bit dazzled when these three beautiful girls from Brooklyn are doing their thing. Like a more relaxed and sublime Stereolab, the intertwining harmonies of their whispery vocals over chilled synthesizers and beats could lull you into a daydream.

Every copy of their self-released debut album Versus of Comfort, Assurance and Salvation, comes hand screen-printed by the band making this record art within art. Being the creative ladies that they are, we asked the Simones to get creative with our very own Rorschach inkblot test. We're sure that you'll find that their interpretations are as charming and entertaining as they are.

Heather: This is the best stage outfit I've ever seen. The model has a cute tight little butt, but really short bow-legged legs. If you're wearing an outfit like this on stage, you have to adopt the champion stance at all times and carry pizza-cutters in both hands, and just scream cause you're a rockstar.
Annie: It reminds me of Bjork's Post. Kind of dark and powerful but exuberant and bat-like at the same time.
Erika:This reminds me of the exciting part of the Arcade Fire's song "Neighborhood #1" where everyone just yells and jumps about.

H: This is obviously a picture of two fairies about to rub noses. I imagine that this image is made of black velvet, hanging in a cathedral behind Tori Amos, lit by a thousand candles as she plays her piano.
A: This one is a Black Moth Super Rainbow song that was on a compilation that Rally Record Label put out.
E: Somewhere between the Fennesz song called "Before I Leave" and the buzzing noise I sometimes hear when I'm stuck between dreaming and awake.

H: This is an accordion that wheezes and coughs when you play it, just like I do.
A: I'm thinking of the Pixies' song "Debaser" on this one, scary and intense but intricate and explosive at the same time. I'm starting to get weirded out for thinking that two out of three images were scary. If I think any more are frightening, I'm just not going to mention it.
E: A horn section. There are 10 different horns and they are all playing along to "The Work Song" by Herb Alpert.

H: This one is scary to me, and I'd rather not discuss it. But I think it wants to break my Minikorg.
A: This reminds me of Mates of State belting out "Let's unraaaaavel the edge of time" from "Our Constant Concern." See? This one isn't scary.
E: This is "Country Mile" by Clinic-specifically the introduction. It's the first song off of their album Winchester Cathedral and it sounds like "Countdown" and then some mystical sparkly stuff explodes before the guitar comes in. Later there are smashes of tambourine, which, naturally, also apply to this blot.

H: Anyone who doesn't see a naked lady in this one is just crazy. I'm sorry. This is just pornographic.
A: Uhhh...traditional Japanese music? I wish I knew some specific Japanese artists here. I'm hearing a pentatonic scale, though.
E: Naked lady? Something feminine but made by a man? Yanni?

H: I wanna say 'yeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhh' and unbutton my pants. Like someone is holding down a 'D' note on an organ for an almost oppressively long time.
A: I'm hearing A Boy Named Thor's, "Our Endless Summer Days," in the way the blot stretches out and makes skinny pieces. Those represent different melody lines.
E: The first song from Axes by Electrelane because there are really drawn-out notes followed by lots of banging & smashing

H: There are two master wizards in beekeeper bonnets about to club each other with lacrosse sticks. They're simultaneously listening to death metal, which seems like the perfect soundtrack for when you're wearing a beekeeper's bonnet.
A: The Dntel song-the one with Ben Gibbard on it. "The Dream of Evan and Chan," which is in my book of the greatest songs EVER. A bit exuberant but also measured at the same time. And totally dreamy and fading in and out, like the ink. And dreamy and fading in and out, like the ink!
E: Music for walking on the beach. Like "#9 Dream" by John Lennon

H: These are two master wizard mermen with their foreheads touching, kneeling (as well as one can kneel with fins instead of legs) in prayer, about to exchange sacred algae balls of peace. Oh, and they're listening to Enya.
A: The Turtles. "So Happy Together"-oddly enough, it looks like a turtle-and it kind of swells like the big chorus does, too.
E: Something droning made by monks.

H: This is clearly a rodeo and country music is blasting, but not the pop-country of Shania Twain variety. I'm talking about real country.
A: Belle and Sebastian, "Judy and the Dream of Horses," because the bits on the ends look like horse-heads on sticks, like the toys that kids play with.
E: Horses, racetrack. We have a song about horse racing. It's called night majestic and will be out on our next album or possibly a 7".

H: This one's just plain silly. I can't concentrate on it long enough to think about music. It reminds me of 'boobah,' not because it looks like boobs, but more the way the kids say 'booooobaaaahhh' during the show. 'Boooooobaaaaahhh.'
A: This reminds me of the owl from the Tootsie Roll Pop commercials from the '80s. "One...two...thrrrrrreeee...three! Three licks." So I guess I would say it reminds me of the Owls, but I wouldn't know an Owls song if it hit me in the head, so I'd like to say it sounds like my friend John's band, Weird Owl, which, by the way, is the best band name ever. Say it out loud. Get it?
E: Cirque de Soleil soundtrack.

H: This one is just ugly. I can't think of any song ugly enough to relate it to. Maybe "It's Raining Men.' I hate that song.
A: Do you remember back in question 3 when I said I wouldn't reveal anything if it was a frightened reaction, even if I was indeed frightened? Well I can't help it-this frightens me. What else frightens me is Tom Wait's voice from his later-days. It kind of hurts my own throat listening to it. The top part could also be Tom's eyebrows bunching up in a pensive frown as he sings "ohhhhhhh, Matilda..."
E: Groucho glasses.

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