Was a striking debut that set apart from her indie folk contemporaries. Its simplicity and depth, and the way it sounded timeless and fresh, made her a singular figure in that scene. On her second album, (pronounced 'ease'), she continues to move in a very different direction than her peers, and even a different one than what her audience might expect. 's 12 gentle vignettes sounded like they were basking in sunlight; is epic, restless, and demanding, made up of five dazzling, shape-shifting songs that range from seven to 16 minutes long. Embarks on this adventure of an album with help from talents as diverse as engineer, arranger, and producer (who, come to think of it, is the perfect meeting point between and ). ' boldly intricate sound plays like an embellished, illuminated, expanded version of 's previous work. ' lavish, but never intrusive, orchestral arrangements sometimes make the album feel - in the best possible way - like a Broadway musical based on, particularly on the album closer, 'Cosmia.'
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Crucially, though, isn't any less 'real' than 's other music just because it's more polished. The nature and craft imagery in her lyrics, the transporting sense of wonder and the one-of-a-kind voice of are here too, just in a much more refined and ambitious form: is a gilt-edged, bone china teacup to 's earthenware mug. Along with the beautifully filigreed arrangements and melodies, which mingle strings, jew's-harps, and spaghetti Western horns with Appalachian, Celtic, and even Asian influences, the album shows 's development as a singer.
She has more nuance and control, particularly over the keening edge of her voice, which is recorded so clearly that when it cracks, it tears the air like a tangible exclamation point. ' daring, plentiful wordplay makes it even more of a rarity: an extremely musically accomplished album with lyrics to match.
On 'Only Skin' alone, goes from rhyming 'fishin' poles' with 'swimmin' holes' to 'heartbroken, inchoate.' These songs are so full of words and plot twists that sometimes it feels more like you're reading them instead of listening to them, and indeed, actually reading the lyrics in the book-like liner notes reveals that has a library's worth of children's stories, myths, romances, and of course, fairy tales woven into its words. As the album unfolds, it seems like can't get more ambitious (and more importantly, pull it off), but with each song, she does. Two of the best moments: the darkly whimsical fable 'Monkey & Bear,' a forest romp that boasts some of the album's best storytelling and some of ' liveliest arrangements, and 'Sawdust & Diamonds,' which is surreally sensual and coltish, with surprisingly direct lyrics: 'From the top of the flight/Of the wide, white stairs/For the rest of my life/Do you wait for me there?' Isn't exactly a reinvention of 's music, but it's so impressive that it's like a reintroduction to what makes her talent so special. Its breathtaking scope makes it a sometimes bewildering embarrassment of riches, or as one of 'The Monkey and the Bear's lyrics puts it, 'a table ceaselessly being set.'
Yes, is a demanding listen, but it's also a rewarding and inspiring one. Letting it unfold and absorbing more each time you hear it is a delight.
Harp and vocals recorded at The Village Recording Studios, LA, December 2005Orchestra recorded at Entourage Studios, LA, May and June, 2006Mixed at Sear Sound, NYC, July, 2006Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, London, July, 2006© & ℗ 2006 Drag City Inc.Released in a gatefold sleeve with 11-page LP-sized booklet attached inside.Tracks listed sequentially on back cover and in the booklet.First catalog number appears on spine, second catalog number appears on labels.Sides marked on labels as: 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B.Label name appears on labels as 'Drag City Records'.' Mastered at' RTI means here 'Processed at'. RTI identified with matrix.
The first copy from Amazon had some pretty terrible distortion. There was also a crackly rough patch near the end of Only Skin, arguably the centerpiece of the album.This was disappointing, so I got Amazon to replace it.The second copy was exactly the same as the first, with distortion everywhere, and the exact same rough patch in the same place.I guess we can only hope for a remastered version, or at least a new batch of pressings. Maybe the stamp they were using had some dust on it, or it was simply worn out, but either way it sounds terrible. So sad, considering this is one of my favourite albums of all time. It's really a gem.5/5 album, 2/5 pressing.
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