"Psyche folk" for ya in Joanna Newsom's Ys
16/11/06 22:50
By SAM LADACH-BARK
It has been two-and-a-half years since Joanna Newsom released The Milk-Eyed Mender. It was featured among Spin magazine's top 50 releases of 2004, which for a debut album is quite impressive.
Newsom was only 22 when it hit the shelves. Her approach was instantly unique, with her playful squeaks moving in and out of harp melodies. It took some getting used to, but with every listen her magical voice became further gripping, drenched with serene calm.
She since has seen Europe, Australia, North America and Japan while on tour with Devendra Banhart and Todd Oldham among others. It seems she has finally settled down and released the album that we have been waiting for.
Fresh, distinctive and altogether deliciously bizarre, her latest effort, titled Ys, is a wonderful escalation of her art. Where Mender was short and sweet, Ys is languid and poetic. The shortest of five tracks runs just over seven minutes and the longest is just under 17.
Besides her staple whimsical harp chords, Newsom has enlisted the help of horn, violin, flute and string for this endeavor. Although her voice and harp still take center stage and direct the flow, the elegant violin-induced atmosphere of "Emily" is especially enchanting. The child-like lyrics of "Sawdust and Diamonds" duplicate the emotion of a children's picture book, with fastidious to leisurely harp strummings replacing illustrations.
While her screaming squeak is toned down a bit for the whole of this album, it is featured in hair-raising spurts on "Cosmia" for her nostalgic fans. And the ever-changing tones of "Only Skin" show how much musical talent she has gained since releasing Mender.
Overall, Ys is a pleasant progression of her already established style. Some fans may be disappointed that after two years all we get is an EP instead of a full-length album. But collectively the six tracks account for a heavenly hour of fanciful folk that only Newsom is capable of delivering. To hear her, go here.
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