Feist manages to combine funked-up folk
and sultry disco effortlessly and adds the perfect amount
of tear-jerking ‘I’ve had a bad day’ tracks
to make this eclectic mix fit together seamlessly.
Title track ‘Let it Die’ isn’t
the strongest track on the album but beautifully showcases
the unmistakable jhai vocal of Feist – emotive and
poignant and leagues ahead of comparable artists like Norah
Jones.
Perhaps most intriguing on the album, is
a cover of the Bee Gees classic, ‘Inside and Out’.
Sounding better than ever, this track is sexy and fresh but
wholly sensitive to original brainchild of the brothers Gibb
- I pray this is released!
Now, don’t get yourself all confused
when you think you don’t understand the words on some
of the tracks – it’s French! As a native of Canada,
it would be a crime if Feist wrote an album without giving
us some of the old Sacha Distel action.
‘Toute Doucement’ is a rip-roaring,
show tune-esque number that adds yet another genre to this
genus-free collection of brilliance. You may also need your
phrase book for the hot and humid, electro-accordion brilliance
of ‘L’amour ne dure pas toujours’.
Now if you’ve already heard the album
you’ll notice I’ve failed to mention the latest
single from the album, ‘Mushaboom’. Although
you may think this track starts like a crazy nursery rhyme,
it is a beautiful reflection of the rest of the album. ‘Mushaboom’ exudes
influences from all over the place and although portrays
an overall naïveté, the lyrical recognition of
life’s normal struggles is ever-present.
Feist and producer, Gonazales have created
an extraordinary assortment of beautiful music. You may need
all your fingers and toes to count the different directions
it takes you in, but think of this as an unwillingness to
be put in a box rather than a lack of focus.
God only knows what section you’ll
be able to find this at your local record store – but
you must find it!
9/10
http://feistmusic.artistes.universalmusic.fr
Jemma Volp-Fletcher
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