Agent Ribbons make a case (and a castle) for batty old crones with Chateau Crone

The Austin trio challenges expectations of women in a refreshing way

By Katherine Hoffert
Published: October 20th, 2010 | 1:00pm

Imagine a place where you can grow old free from the pressures of society; a creatively nurturing place where your value isn't intrinsically tied to your looks; a place where people work together to support one another’s dreams; a place where you can let your boobs sag.

“Welcome Home” begins the 24-page booklet that accompanies Agent Ribbons' new album, Chateau Crone (Antenna Farm). Outlining in detail the Austin, Texas, baroque-pop trio's future dream estate—which will be “an escape from the world's unforgiving disdain for batty, aging crones”—its pages are filled with illustrations and handwritten descriptions of what lies within the chateau gates: libraries with crooked bookshelves, record players in every room, a glass-bottomed dance floor atop a moat, a proud dachshund, a carousel of seahorses, an abalone shell bathtub, a kitchen tiled with broken teacups, and a miniature version of the Pantheon.

Challenging society's expectations of aging women is nothing new. Just look at actress Joanne Woodward who chose to age naturally in an appearance-obsessed industry, or Maude from the classic film Harold and Maude who sang out when she wanted to sing out. Yet, few have done it so creatively—or while they were still in their twenties.

The seed for Chateau Crone was planted during a conversation with Dame Darcy in which the comic book artist—who provided the artwork for Agent Ribbons’ 7-inch single Agent Ribbons and the Star-Crossed Doppelganger (Seven Inch Project)—ranted to singer-guitarist Natalie Ribbons about how old crones are more valuable to society. But it wasn’t until Ribbons watched the 1975 documentary Grey Gardens that everything gelled. “A lot of people see Grey Gardens and interpret it as sad or despairing,” says Ribbons, her bright red curls tucked under a scarf. “I saw it as two women who maybe were idealizing their past a little bit, but had such a super close relationship and protected each other from the rest of the world. It was so beautiful and inspiring to me.”

While Ribbons, drummer Lauren Hess, and violinist Naomi Cherie are surely idealistic as well, they've created their own Chateau Crone on the road during national tours with Camera Obscura, Cake, and most recently, Girl in a Coma. “It gives me so much comfort knowing that I don't have to give a shit about what I look like when I'm in the van with Lauren and Naomi,” Ribbons says.

Agent Ribbons have also made a creatively nurturing place in their music. The full-length follow up to their 2006 self-released debut On Time Travel and Romance, Chateau Crone is a collage of sounds, producers, places, and times that's influenced just as much by Hess' Auntie Lisa as the Zombies. Fueled by the struggles of modern girls (or post-post-modern girls), it defies the disposability of the present day by bringing a well-made, carefully crafted piece of art into the world on both CD and vinyl. In fact, the only thing temporary about Chateau Crone is the tattoo of the official CC crest included in its packaging.

Most importantly, Chateau Crone embraces the personalities of its creators: the self-taught Hess who owns almost every riot grrl 7-inch known to woman; the theatrical Ribbons, whose stage presence is both charming and cathartic, and whose witty lyrics can turn from darkly poetic to fiercely empowering on a dime; and the classically trained Cherie, whose spastic, Alice in Wonderland-like performance style comes after 12 years playing in orchestra. Full of brilliant harmonies, Spector-esque production, and an old soul’s sense of humor, the album does everything from garage pop to haunting waltzes to '60s love ballads and raucous, theremin-laced dance numbers. But it's a line from “Your Hands My Hands,” where all three Cronies triumphantly chime in, that resonates most: “Am I lazy? Yes. Am I crazy? Yes. Well, I'm happy like this!” Here, Agent Ribbons offer listeners the ultimate sanctuary in Chateau Crone by saying it's OK to be crazy, because you're in good company.

__

Agent Ribbons MySpace page

Antenna Farm Records