Fox Confessor Brings The Flood [CD]

Having had flashes of greatness on her past four albums, Neko Case has finally produced a work that is consistently great. Twelve dark jewels dangling on a charm bracelet, each song is exquisitely composed and intricately shaped. As ever, the vocal work is unparallelled, like a more palatable Loretta Lynne or a less cloying Patsy Cline; on the gospel barnstormer John Saw the Number the delivery is reminiscent of Elvis on tip top form in its vitality.
This album really sees Case come into her own as a songwriter. While previous albums have included one or two great original songs and plenty of others that were simply very good, FCBTF contains only great songs. From the tale of inequality and envy of the opener Margaret Vs Pauline right through to the touching tale of a lost companion of the closing track The Needle Has Landed the album is shot through dramatic imagery, dark humour, and emotive sentiments. Aided by by a stellar cast of musicians, the tracks are realised to fantastic effect.
Really, even if you are put off by the country label, you should check this album out. It is, put simply, brilliant. Almost indecently so.

Neko Case is a busy goddess, flitting between work with the prolific outfit The New Pornographers, the odd mini-LP mail-order, a live recording and her own solo career (...sadly no continuation of the rather sexy pics Case made a few years ago...you can't have everything!). 'Fox Confessor...' continues the progression 'Blacklisted' made on the earlier material recorded with her then Boyfriends, 'The Virginian' and 'Furnace Room Lullaby.' I've been hooked since John Peel played 'Twist the Knife'- the sound of Case's last solo LP fitted into the Americana rubric, somewhere between country, gospel,roots and soul and fitting into the same universe as Daniel Lanois' work with Emmylou Harris. Where Neko with the New Pornographers is like Debbie Harry hanging with The Knack on a Brian Wilson tip, Ms Case's solo career exploits her gorgeous vocals. Bessie and Patti...and down the line there is Neko.

As with 'Blacklisted', Case co-produces with Darryl Neudorf, composing all the songs, and with an able supporting cast including Calexico (Joey Burns and John Convertino - formerly of Giant Sand), The Sadies, Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), Kelly Hogan (more of her sexy background vocals!), Paul Rigby, and on several tracks, Garth Hudson (formerly of The Band and contributor to records by Mercury Rev, Norah Jones, & The Secret Machines new one!).

I've only listened to 'Fox...' a few times, but like certain records - Cat Power's 'The Greatest', Laura Veirs' 'Carbon Glacier', Emmylou's 'Stumble from Grace' - all of which feel like relatives, this is one of those undeniably wonderful records. Highlights thus far...well all of it, but the ones that stand out for me are 'Star Witness', 'Dirty Knife', 'That Teenage Feeling', opener 'Margaret Vs. Pauline' & the title track. Songs like 'A Widow's Toast' take feel not far from Jolie Holland and the Be Good Tanyas, but given a Lanois-style treatment.

'Fox Confessor..' is undoubtedly one of the highlights of 2006, certainly going to be amongst my favourites alongside 'The Greatest', the new Low LP, Giant Drag's 'Hearts & Unicorns', the new Drive By Truckers & Willard Grant Conspiracy and the Loose Fur LP. Let's hope Neko tours the UK soon - and maybe somewhere like Birmingham where I would have the pleasure?

The gorgeous Neko Case is a busy vixen - since 2002's 'Blacklisted' she has released the mini-LP 'Canadian Amp', toured some, appeared on two New Pornographers albums ('Electric Version' & 'Twin Cinema') and released a live album 'The Tigers Have Spoken' (sadly she hasn't advanced the glamour pic side of her persona!). 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood' is the follow-up proper to the wonderful 'Blacklisted', featuring many of the souls who contributed towards that: Kelly Hogan, Calexico, Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), Darryl Neudorf (here co-producer with Neko - previous co-producer Craig Schumacher contributes also), as well as folks like The Sadies, Rachel Flotard and former Band-member Garth Hudson - who not only got a wave of new life from last year's Dylanfest 'No Direction Home' but has also played with Norah Jones, Mercury Rev and Secret Machines.

It could be seen that 'Fox Confessor...' returns the more traditional flavours of 'The Virginian' and 'Furnace Room Lullaby' - there's more old-time country and gospel here than 'Blacklisted.' Those who don't appreciate the more traditional side of things may not like this so much, though there's plenty of Daniel Lanois-style Americana (think 'Wrecking Ball', 'Oh Mercy') on the title track. & Like Cat Power's great 'The Greatest' there's plenty of soul too - 'Star Witness' being a key example of that. Perhaps Ms Case has decided to emphasise the more traditional side of her sound to distinguish her solo career from her parallel studio career with The New Pornographers (they have a different female vocalist live).

Alongside the aforementioned Lanois/Emmylou Harris, there are reminders of Kristin Hersh, Mary Margaret O'Hara and the McCarrigle sisters - all good stuff. 'Hold on, Hold On' is co-written with The Sadies and sounds positively anthemic and the kind of song you need to ground you in these times. The album as a whole is steeped in that timeless Biblical language - the title track veers off into experimental guitar territory with some Old Testament vibes that have been related to Hurricane Katrina. It's one of those albums - like Julian Cope's latest or The Flaming Lips 'At War with the Mystics' that fits very well to the zeitgeist - though I'm sure it's timeless too...

'That Teenage Feeling' sounds like a Morrissey-song given a 'Wrecking Ball'-work over - while 'A Widow's Toast' showcases a minimal gospel side - just Neko and Paul Rigby on guitar. Perhaps opener 'Margaret vs. Pauline' is the definitive song here - Hudson's contribution to this and 'Maybe Sparrow' is excellent...

'Fox Confessor...' is another great record from Neko Case and certainly a highlight of 2006- though if Americana ain't your thing and you're expecting New Pornographers style alt-pop, best stay away...'Fox Confessor...' stands alongside other great albums from great females this year - Cat Power's 'The Greatest', Isobel Campbell/Mark Lanegan's 'Ballad of the Broken Seas' & Beth Orton's Jim O'Rourke-produced return to form. This album also has one of the great album covers, if that kind of thing matters to you...