As of late, New Pornographers fans have had much to rejoice about and much new material to relish. The Canadian indie rock outfit recently released 2005's critically acclaimed "Twin Cinema" and treated audiences across the country to a joint tour with Belle and Sebastian.
And now, two of the New Pornographers' most integral members have released solo records within a matter of weeks of each other.
On Feb. 21, Pornographers drummer and multi-instrumentalist Dan Bejar released "Destroyer's Rubies" under his Destroyer moniker, and this past Tuesday, vocalist Neko Case put forth "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood," her fifth solo effort to date.
Case's music is often pegged as alternative country; that is, she works out of the mainstream influence of more popular country artists, enabling her to exercise a greater degree of creativity in her songwriting than Nashville typically allows. With "Fox Confessor," she accomplishes just that, compiling aurally pleasing and intriguingly-written music.
As irreverent as it may be to preface this review by temporarily slighting the value of the songs on "Fox Confessor," Case's singular voice is what makes this album an instant classic. The longer the album plays, the more impressive Case's voice sounds. Her distinctly tuneful and luscious voice is only augmented with a reverb that pervades the album.
Case's vocals vary from song to song, from her sweet cooing on "Star Witness" to her robust belting on the chorus of "Hold On, Hold On." She even evokes the hint of a bucolic Shirley Bassey on "Lion's Jaws," and her vibrato on "That Teenage Feeling" is awe-inspiring. Case's vocal register is one of versatility and beauty.
Her songwriting skills also shine on "Fox Confessor." Many of the album's tracks are poetic narratives. For instance, opener "Margaret vs. Pauline" is an unnerving look at the intertwining stories of rich girl Pauline and the deprived Margaret. Moreover, her lyrics are enigmatic. Songs can potentially convey a slew of profound meanings; "Star Witness" speaks of either lost love or some tangible physical suffering. Case writes with a certain amount of prudence and mystery that enthralls the listener.
On many of her previous albums, Case performed covers of country or folk singer/songwriter virtuosos like Loretta Lynn and Bob Dylan. But "Fox Confessor" is 100 percent original Neko Case; she either wrote or co-wrote all 12 songs on the record, making each of their high levels of quality even more impressive.
In addition to Case's outstanding vocal performance, the instrumental elements of the album are noteworthy as well. After only a few plays, the listener detects something that may seem like instrumental ennui, but those who are diligent will find subsequent listens more rewarding as the subtle nuances of each song begin to reveal themselves.
Case realizes her alternative country proclivities on straightforward country songs like "John Saw That Number" and the pastoral ballad "Lion's Jaws." Tracks like "Hold On, Hold On" and title namesake "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood," with their fluid chord progressions and sing-song configurations, are truly pop-oriented songs. "A Widow's Toast" and "Dirty Knife" offer such sparse instrumentation as to be nearly a cappella.
Despite the variety of sounds on this album, some listeners may find it repetitive due to a lack of instrumental diversification. Most songs employ drums, bass, piano, and electric or acoustic guitar, or both. There are, fortunately, a few digressions from this norm (notably the strong string section presence in "Dirty Knife" and the steel guitar in "That Teenage Feeling") that make the instrumentation palatable. The sounds within each song can become monotonous, but this transgression is vindicated by Case's captivating voice, which delivers on every single song.
Other than that, the only plausible complaint about this album is that it is too short. At just over 35 minutes in length, listeners will be upset to find that Case's brilliance endures for so short a time. Still, what Case does within that little time is, to say the least, remarkable.
