An Indigo Girl Goes It Alone…At Last

After 30 years helping to helm one of the most successful duos of all time, it’s little wonder that Indigo Girl Emily Saliers hasn’t been in any hurry to undertake a solo initiative. Granted, partner Amy Ray has carried on a successful side career that’s taken her farther afield, but Saliers has invested her energy wholly with the band and opted to make no noise of her own.

That changes with Murmuration Nation, an album that finds her boldly venturing into territory rarely occupied by the Indigos. Produced by frequent collaborator and violinist Lyris Hung, and backed by a band that includes bassist Tim LeFebvre (David Bowie, Tedeschi Trucks Band), keyboardist Rachel Eckroth (KT Tunstall) with drummers Robert “Sput” Searight (Snarky Puppy) and Will Calhoun (Living Colour), along with guests Lucy Wainwright Roche, Jonatha Brooke and Jennifer Nettles, the album is both topical (“OK Corral” is a sharp rebuke to the gun-obsessed minions egged on by the NRA while “Fly” offers kudos to those willing to shift the playing field in the midst of a post-election malaise) and tumultuous in its tangled commentary on courtship and romance. Still, the main additive that differs here is Saliers’ use of post modern imagery, complete with all edge, angst and celebration besides. Propulsive rhythms more akin to funk than folk clearly find a place apart from most Indigos initiatives, providing more of a more pronounced groove in the process.

Most importantly, Saliers is showing a clear confidence that’s manifest in expansive melodies like “Match,””I’m High On High” and her happy homage to the pleasures of the open road, “Long Haul,” which features Nettles contributing guest vocals. If Saliers had any trepidation about stepping out on her own, it’s not the least bit apparent here. Murmuration Nation opens the door to a communal embrace while offering a place where both fans and first timers can feel equally at home.