When three magnificent female vocalists, such as Neko Case, k.d.lang and Laura Veirs are, come together to make an album, the result has to be something beautifully aberrant. Oh, yes honey!
This magical little master-piece brings a total pleasure that only a good music can bring to the human soul. The story begun when k.d.lang sent an e-mail to Neko and Laurs with the collaboration proposal. Needless to say, both of girls immediately said yes.
The process of developing the album was approximately two years long, and it took place in Portland, which is obviously a fertile topos for music. The plan was to communicate wishes and habitués of all three artists by creating something that will represent an amalgam of their styles, predilections and sounds.
The result is fascinating. This is the album that makes you fall in love with it at first sight, by many parameters. The sound is so seductive, it is almost perfect. Lyrics and simple, but never prosaic. When it comes to vocals, words are futile.
It is difficult to put the album into a certain genre box, but it is mostly a mixture of Neko Case’s alt-country, k.d.lang’s folk and Laura Veir’s indie. You can feel the essence of each one of them throughout the record. It is like they extracted the fundamentals of their styles and translated it to the style of this album.
The story of the album owns it narrative to the folk legend Judee Sill, which is why there is one eulogy song called Song for Judee. The album sounds like approbation for Judee Sill and her unique expression that would maybe sound like this today.
Vocally, everything is at the top level. It is amazing how these three vocals converge into a sonic apogee. Neko Case stands out, especially in Atomic Numbers and Delirium, songs bursting from rhythm. From ballades such as Honey and Smoke and Behind the Armony, to the exuberant Georgia Stars, everything sucks you into the multiverse of softness and femininity. Supermoon is probably my favorite track, while Best Kept Secret made me fall in love with Laura.
Lyrics are written by all three singers, and that is a whole new story. From references to the most banal things to metaphorical and hermetic discourse, the album offers a glut of maturity and self-awareness.
It’s official – this is the best indie-folk-country album of 2016. Mark my words.
