I have some new music I’ve been listening to, including Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone, Wilco’s (The Album), and Madeline Peyroux’s Bare Bones.
Of the three the one that seems to be sticking in my head is Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone. I’ve only gone through it a couple of times thus far but it did seem to feel stronger the second time through, which is a good sign. Neko’s big vocals are given the same ethereal treatment they received on Fox Confessor, with a rich and layered soundscape behind them so that it sounds like she’s shouting at you from inside a comfortable dream. A strange and cool experience i’d say.
The standout track thus far for me is her cover of Harry Neilson’s Don’t Forget Me, which is pretty much a candidate for my Death List. She has a barn full of old pianos that she uses to great effect on this song. It comes out both haunting and at the same time wryly humorous – the Harry Neilson treatment run through Neko Case’s musical imagination.
On a recent road trip we loaded up six cds in our system, one of which was Neko’s Fox Confessor. It was sort of thrilling to be rolling down the highway with that album keeping pace with the miles. Middle Cyclone will likewise be a worthy road companion….
