Keren Ann - Nolita

Genre pop Publisher Blue Note Records External Links Official Website Blue Note Records

Nolita's seductive lullabies are certainly powerful and it is an easy call that this is one of those records where time slows down for forty-five minutes. But here, time drifts off into a meaningless recline and is merely hinted at by percolating bass lines and an ever-present steady drum beat. The record lulls its listeners into a sleepy acceptance. Keren Ann, the creator, works best creating hazy moods and keeping the relationship themed narratives to a minimum, as they can be hard to follow what with the musically induced foggy minds of the listeners.

Musically, Keren Ann is meticulous. The arrangements are spotless, efficient and yet hazy. She has a knack for making the picky and professional seem almost languid. Simple guitar patterns twinkle dimly under her murmur while a rhythm section joins in sporadically. The drumming is kept simple, relying on the bass to provide movement or in Nolita's case a subtle shifting. As the record winds down, more distinctive drum beats surface as on the end of the affair "For You And I" and the subtly swinging "Midi Dans Le Salon De La Duchesse." They work to slowly propel the songs but maintain the narcotic feel of the record.

As she divides her time between the two cities, a New York, Paris split is pronounced along the periphery of the album. Songs bounce between English and French easily enough for the time-splitting singer, but strong geographically based traditional elements often sneak into the orchestration of the tunes. In addition to the French jazz elements of "Que N'ai-Je?," harmonica and slide guitar find a home among the foreign surroundings.

Thematically she plays with the split. The record sleeve twice shows two distinct Keren Ann figures in the same frame looking off in opposing directions. A number of New York based photos are positioned next to French themed drawings. This is a much more noticeable conceit graphically than it is aurally as the harmonica and slide additions add to her sound quite naturally. There is a slow country shuffle to many of her songs already, albeit underlying a French accent, but the pieces fit seamlessly enough.

Coincidently or not, the songs sung in French stand out as the most accomplished. "La Forme Et Le Fond" works as a Moon Safari lullaby and "Que N'ai-Je?" moves like a dark café tune. Her voice is airy, breathing seductive life into sparse songs regardless of language, offering up scenes and settings on par with the dark meander of the music.

While a lack of any dynamic shift is clearly her trademark, it is also the album's strongest downside. This is mood music, specific for lazy days and quiet nights. The voice is striking. The music perfectly executed. But we could use a little action once the record ends. Often it's nice to feel like you're going somewhere other than to sleep.