Cosmo Cosmolino (band)

Cosmo Cosmolino are a gypsy, folk and tango band, which formed in 1995 by Hope Csutoros on lead violin, Helen Mountfort on cello (both members of My Friend the Chocolate Cake) and Judy Gunson on lead vocals and piano accordion. They were joined by Andrea Keeble on violin and Dan Witton on double bass and vocals in 1998. Their debut album, Streetsweeper, was independently released in April 2000 and was followed by Nektár in December 2004, which was nominated for Best World Music Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2005. Csutoros was replaced by Sue Simpson on violin in 2006. Their third album, Bel Air, appeared in August 2011.

Cosmo Cosmolino
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genresgypsy folk / tango
Years active1995–present
LabelsMGM
Associated actsMy Friend the Chocolate Cake
MembersJudy Gunson
Andrea Keeble
Helen Mountfort
Sue Simpson
Dan Witton

History

Cosmo Cosmolino were formed as a gypsy, folk and tango trio in Melbourne in 1995 by Hope Csutoros on lead violin, Helen Mountfort on cello (both members of My Friend the Chocolate Cake) and Judy Gunson on lead vocals and piano accordion.[1][2][3] They are named for a book, Cosmo Cosmolino (1992), by Australian writer, Helen Garner, set in Melbourne.[1][4] The trio later expanded to a quintet with Andrea Keeble on violin and Dan Witton on double bass and vocals;[3] the five-piece first performed in 1998.[5]

The group released their self-funded debut album, Streetsweeper, in April 2000.[6][7] Evan Cater of AllMusic rated it at four-and-a-half stars out-of five and explained, "[it] features an impressive range of material, from the traditional and classical to the experimental and playful... [makes them] particularly well suited for the experimental 'nuevo tango' sound originally pioneered by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla."[8] He described, "Their repertoire, which consists primarily of original instrumental compositions interspersed with occasional vocal pieces and innovative arrangements of popular orchestral works, is a lively blend of tango, European gypsy music, and jazz-influenced improvisation."[1]

Their second album, Nektár, was launched at The Famous Spiegeltent in December 2004.[9] It was nominated for Best World Music Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2005.[10] The Age's correspondent caught their performance at Fitzroy Community Room in July 2005, "[their] sound requires a delicate dynamic balance and five pairs of keenly attuned ears. On Saturday night, the group's mainly original repertoire achieved this balance perfectly, each instrument rising and falling in carefully interlocking patterns that still left room for individual interpretation."[2] Sean Doyle of Radio National's Daily Planet played two tracks: for Mountfort's "La Mort de Jezebel", he described, "Italianate, sweetly bittersweet piece which originally depicted elderly people dancing tenderly at Melbourne's Melbourne Club", and for Csutoros' title track, he observed, "overtly Hungarian 'gypsy', but not in the cornball corner: a celebration of the composer's Magyar cultural inheritance & also remembers her childhood trip to Hungary, where she witnessed her father embrace his mother, twenty years since he'd last seen her."[11]

Csutoros left in 2006 and was replaced by Sue Simpson.[12] They followed with Bel Air, launched in August 2011.[13][14] LotL's reviewer felt, "[it] takes the listener on a ride of passion in all its glorious colours – heartfelt songs, bursts of wild virtuosic strings, soulful piano accordion, languid and lascivious laments grounded by infectious double bass grooves. Cosmo Cosmolino invites you to join them for a wild ride filled with laughter, tears, passion and mayhem."[14] Lucky Oceans previewed the album on Daily Planet, "[it] continues the string and accordion Melbourne quintet's explorations of classical, tango, klezmer, jazz and Brazilian musics, all with an emotional, surging sound and forward-propelling rhythm."[15] They toured Victoria from late July to early September 2011 in support of its release.[15]

Members
Former members
  • Hope Csutoros - lead violin
  • David Abiuso - bass guitar

Discography

Albums
  • Streetsweeper (April 2000)[16] MGM Distribution (CC001)
  • Nektár (December 2004) – Sound Vault Records/MGM Distribution (CC002)[17]
  • Bel Air (8 August 2011) – Planet Company/MGM Distribution (CC003)[18]

References
  1. Cater, Evan. "Cosmo Cosmolino | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  2. Nicholas, Jessica (4 July 2005). "Cosmo Cosmolino". The Age.
  3. Entries on Australian Rock Database:
    • Helen Mountfort (1995–present): Holmgren, Magnus. "Helen Mountfort". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 26 December 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
    • Hope Csutoros (1995–2006): Holmgren, Magnus. "Hope Csutoros". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 27 December 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
    • My Friend the Chocolate Cake: Holmgren, Magnus; Bridie, David. "My Friend the Chocolate Cake". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 21 December 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  4. Duguid, Lindsay (10 January 1993). "Book Review / New Age in the land of Oz: Cosmo Cosmolino - Helen Garner: Bloomsbury, 13.99". The Independent. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  5. "Music with a difference". Mornington Peninsular Leader. 15 October 2002.
  6. Hanusiak, Xenia (18 April 2000). "A spin at fame". Herald Sun.
  7. Cosmo Cosmolino (April 2000), Streetsweeper, Cosmo Cosmolino, retrieved 15 January 2019
  8. Cater, Evan. "Streetsweeper – Cosmo Cosmolino". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  9. Hanusiak, Xenia (14 December 2004). "Cosmo Cosmolino". Herald Sun.
  10. Kroslakova, Katarina (23 October 2005). "Fine arts". Sun Herald.
  11. "Sean Doyle – Daily Planet". ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). 9 December 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  12. Nicholas, Jessica (15 July 2008). "Fiery Cosmo stirs passions". The Age.
  13. "The weekend starts here". The Age. 12 August 2011.
  14. CecBuzz (4 July 2011). Silke K Bader (ed.). "Cosmo Cosmolino album launch". LotL. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  15. Oceans, Lucky. "Cosmo Cosmolino – Daily Planet". ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  16. Boyd, Chris (22 December 2000). "Sound". The Australian Financial Review.
  17. Cosmo Cosmolino (2004), Nektár, Cosmo Cosmolino, retrieved 15 January 2019, Performer: Judy Gunson, accordion, vocals; Hope Sutoros [sic], Andrea Keeble, violin; Helen Mountford, cello; Dan Whitton, double bass, vocals.
  18. Cosmo Cosmolino (2011), Bel Air, Planet Company [distributor], retrieved 15 January 2019, Performer: Judy Gunston, accordion, vocals; Sue Simpson, Andrea Keeble, violin; Helen Mountfort, cello; Dan Witton, contrabass.
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