mouse
New York City, New York, United States
Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“Hey there, what you’re thinking of makes me nervous,” Mouse sings on one of these songs, and that very line sums up the vibe of Poison Apple. You know those vaguely uncomfortable, David Lynch-like dreams that are technically nightmares but you don’t want to wake up because everything is so dangerously beautiful and hypnotic? Turn out the lights, leave a candle burning, put this CD on, and have that dream while awake.
What lures you in is that beautiful voice. Mouse has been involved in a few bands and projects, but on this one, she’s a psychedelic acoustic folk rock beat poet. The voice is contemplative, musing, like she’s weaving the lyrics on the spot. Sometimes she’s brazenly childlike in the delivery, as in the title track, in which she sings like a little girl chanting a nursery rhyme while she burns ants on the sidewalk with a magnifying glass. On other songs, she breathes delicately, as if she has become the song. Some tracks, like “The Waltz,” just suddenly end, as if the song has taken its last breath.
The music has an orchestral feel, which adds to the moody atmosphere. Gypsies, fortune-tellers, and other mystic characters swirl tauntingly and then dissolve. Even the music sounds magically lost in thought. When the CD ends, it’s like waking up from one of those dangerously alluring nightmares, when you want to hurry up and go back to sleep so you’ll dream it again. But you leave the light on this time.
*****
splendidzine.com, 02/24/04 Jay Forman
Little Mouse sounds all grown up on this well-crafted disc, which highlights the considerable strengths of singer-songwriter Susan Margolis.
Poison Apple presents a fine range of expression for what can too often be a stylistically starved genre. Margolis's classical background in cello doubtless helps to elevate the music to a higher level. The timbre of her voice evokes the harmonies of Louise Post and Nina Gordon from Veruca Salt, but her lyrics tread a more introspective path, akin to the meditations of Suzanne Vega.
*****
Free-Times, Columbia S.C. 11/07/03 Dan Cook
Mouse, Science Knows No Sin CD Release Party NEW BROOKLAND TAVERN: Saturday, Nov. 8 Singer-songwriter Susan Margolis, aka Mouse, left Columbia a few years ago to give New York City a try, but she continues to make periodic appearances here to let us know what she’s up to. While local audiences probably remember her best for the hard-edged indie rock of Science Knows No Sin, at the core of Margolis’ songwriting has always been a much softer and more introspective side, dating to her time in several mellow local bands in the mid ‘90s. While Science Knows No Sin will use this occasion to deliver one of their now-rare but always-rockin’ sets, the headliner for the evening is Margolis’ quieter project, Mouse. With her latest release, Poison Apple, Margolis explores that softer side in all its facets. The result is a package of songs ranging from subtle indie psychedelia to straight-up indie pop and treading territory similar to that of Madder Rose, Juliana Hatfield and Liz Phair (without the sexual obsessions) — and, to a lesser extent, Mazzy Star and Ida. Throughout Poison Apple, Margolis shows an easy way with a melody and a growing prowess in harmonies and arrangements. She’s also just as adept with acoustic as with electric guitar, and she throws some cello lines in for good measure, too. - indiemusic.com March 2004
Singer-songwriter Susan Margolis, aka Mouse, left Columbia a few years ago to give New York City a try, but she continues to make periodic appearances here to let us know what she’s up to. While local audiences probably remember her best for the hard-edged indie rock of Science Knows No Sin, at the core of Margolis’ songwriting has always been a much softer and more introspective side, dating to her time in several mellow local bands in the mid ‘90s. While Science Knows No Sin will use this occasion to deliver one of their now-rare but always-rockin’ sets, the headliner for the evening is Margolis’ quieter project, Mouse. With her latest release, Poison Apple, Margolis explores that softer side in all its facets. The result is a package of songs ranging from subtle indie psychedelia to straight-up indie pop and treading territory similar to that of Madder Rose, Juliana Hatfield and Liz Phair (without the sexual obsessions) — and, to a lesser extent, Mazzy Star and Ida. Throughout Poison Apple, Margolis shows an easy way with a melody and a growing prowess in harmonies and arrangements. She’s also just as adept with acoustic as with electric guitar, and she throws some cello lines in for good measure, too. - The Free Times
Discography
Mouse- "Poison Apple" self-released 2003 Full Length CD -this cd gets airplay on WUSC- 90.5fm
Mouse- "For The Dogs" to be released fall 2004 full length cd
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
straight outta brooklyn ....
ms. mouse's influences include pj harvey cat power mary timony throwing muses lucinda williams etc etc.
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