Basia Bulat - Oh My Darling (Rough Trade)
4/5
By: Chris O'Toole
London, Ontario, must be a far cry from London, England. A forest city located on the edge of the artic circle, swept by snow drifts whatever the season in a wintry bliss, shimmering in the icy shadows of mountains, sitting on top of our world. Only such a place could produce the spectral, enigmatic charm of Basia Bulat, a female folk singer from a frozen paradise. Releasing her debut album on Rough Trade Records, Bulat sings like a distant echo from just over the horizon. The twelve songs presented here grew on trees only to be found and shared with the world in what seems to be an organic, natural process. There is an effortless charm to their scenic beauty; her work is whisper thin like smoke.
Produced by Howard Bileman, of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Arcade Fire fame, 'Oh My Darling' is a shy, retiring record; a record that would stand awkwardly in the corner at parties but still attract a wealth of attention of fascinated onlookers. It is filled with delicate, light string arrangements and exquisite ragtime piano melodies. Both act as a foil to Bulat's voice, which, whilst not powerful, is delightfully charming and illusive. 'The Pilgriming Vine', for example, is a highlight. A slow building orchestral arrangement propels the track, combing the folk narrative that runs through the album with chamber pop sensibilities, blurring to create a wonderful romance; truly compelling. Again, 'Little One', showcases Burlat's mysterious, furtive voice presenting it wrapped in subtle strings and delicate percussion. There is a real sincerely to the gentle charm of her voice and the words she sings, a quality Bileman accentuates, never trampling over the tender beauty of the work, but adding emphasis where necessary to draw out the character of the tracks.
A short album at thirty five minutes, 'Oh My Darling' is nonetheless remarkably varied. Bulat's voice, comparable to that of Leslie Feist, is shaped to fit a number of moods, invigorating, as on 'I Was A Daughter', or mournful, as with 'Why Can't It Be Mine', but never straying far from the intimacy that characterizes the work. This is a charming record from an artist who deserves to be celebrated for her quiet sincerity.
Stream three tracks from 'Oh My Darling' HERE.
Artists in this article: Basia Bulat
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