Someday, Now

With her third album, Someday, Now, Katy J Pearson establishes a pattern of collaboration and experimentation without meddling with the warm, tuneful, 1970s-evoking songcraft that has defined every release. Possessing a relatively high-pitched, Parton-esque vocal delivery that lends itself to twang, she offered a satisfying blend of folk-rock, country, and indie pop on her debut LP (Return), then worked with Speedy Wundergrounds Dan Carey for a grittier, more urgent sound -- at least on select tracks -- on the follow-up (Sound of the Morning). Someday, Now finds Pearson working with avant-pop/electronic producer Nathan Jenkins, better known as Bullion, for excursions into a more aerodynamic sound with sleeker surfaces -- again, only in some cases; in other words, its not an electro-pop album. Her backing band here comprises a similarly open-minded set of collaborators, including H. Hawklines Huw Evans, Boy Azoogas Davey Newington, and Joel Burton (Broadside Hacks), all Heavenly labelmates and/or prior collaborators of Pearsons. Someday, Now gets things going with a breezy, soft rock-styled number, "Those Goodbyes," although the lyrics are tinged with dread, and the track begins with a few seconds of glitchy, sound collage-like material highlighted by the distorted felicitation "May the wind be always at your back." That sections manipulated blurts resurface on occasion during the song, as if giving voice to Pearsons anxieties ("And I know youre gonna do it/Make me feel stupid"). While an easygoing soft rock prevails on Someday, Now, keyboards and electric bass take a more prominent role on songs like "Save Me" and "Constant," and she even ventures toward post-punk on the spikier "Grand Final." However, all descriptions are relative on an album that always centers a hummable vocal melody and never leaves head-bobbing territory, even when lyrics are provoked. It establishes Pearson as an artist whos eager to experiment but in command of her musical identity. ~ Marcy Donelson

ブリストル出身のシンガー・ソングライターが3枚目のアルバムを発表。"It's Mine Now"では物悲しいストリングスを鳴らしながら、"Grand Final"は軽快なダンサブル・ナンバーに仕上がるなど、多彩なアレンジが耳に残る。機知に富んだ言葉が並ぶ歌詞はシニカルさを滲ませつつ、感情の機微を上手く捉えた繊細な心情が印象に残る。
bounce (C)近藤真弥