Since the days of The Velvet Underground’s ‘Banana’ album, NYC has been setting the standard in the rockn’n’roll femme fatale department, but admittedly hasn’t yet produced a presence as charismatic and powerful as Nico. From the tracks on her debut EP – and the retro press pictures coming with it – Brooklyn-based performance artist and vocalist Ziemba (aka René Kladzyk) may have the presence and the talent to fill this void – although the first thing we’d like to hear from her is better recorded music, in particular more attention to details in the vocal department. Like the German chantause from the 60s, Ziemba isn’t afraid of sadness and sparsness, and single ‘Phantom See" is a tasteful tune that might entrance fans of David Sylvian, Brian Eno, John Cale and other semi-experimental luminaries. Ziemba will celebrate her debut EP release at Cameo on April 15. – Photo by Miriam Fanger
