With a bit more jazz and swing, Po’ Girl travels the harmony-filled, old-time territory of the Be Good Tanyas. No surprise, since Be Good Tanya Trish Klein is one-half of Po’ Girl, pairing with fellow Canadian Allison Russell. For guitar-and-banjo-playing Klein, it’s a chance to give her vocals and songwriting more prominence. For Russell, it’s a chance to show off her scatting voice that recalls Tracy Chapman’s sharpness and Rickie Lee Jones’ slur.
“City Song” exemplifies one of their specialties: sad lyrics contrasting a beautiful voice, telling of “a city that’s so lonely and cold, a town with no pity, don’t it make you feel so alone.” The nightclub swing of “Malaise Days” has a similar feel, with a chorus of “I want to jump right out of my skin” that makes you want to jump right up and sing along.
Klein’s “Backstairs Down” rides a shuffle beat and a Fender Rhodes piano as it recounts a crushing relationship that has her seeking a place she can find “a little time just to think.” “What Sad Old Song?” builds to a near-shout: “You have to dance when the spirit says dance/You have to sing when the spirit says sing.” With straightforward musicianship built around Klein and Russell’s intertwining vocals, Po’ Girl delivers nice, casual music that slowly grooves into the heart.
