Watershed

 

 

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Four time Grammy winner k.d. lang's new album "Watershed" is the first album of newly written material since 2000's "Invincible Summer".
For a while, Lang wasn't writing songs anywhere.
In the intervening years, she has recorded cover versions and duets, but nothing has emerged from her own pen.
Fans who were constantly craving another album like "Ingenue" wondered if she had lost the knack.
Writer's block was the problem, apparently. And the catalyst behind the unleashing of Watershed's sequence of love songs was that the Canadian singer/songwriter has found happiness with her new love.
"I wondered that myself," she says. "I think that when I start out on any new record".
But now "Watershed" is finished, ready and immaculately delivered.
So why the lengthy wait? "I got writer's block. There were a number of contributory factors. One was 9/11, which turned the atmosphere in America - politically, emotionally and artistically - on its ear. Afterwards I couldn't write love songs. They just seemed so frivolous".
It features eleven new songs written and recorded in 2007 for Nonesuch label, and is also the first self-produced collection of her 25-year career.
It doesn't disappoint. But, please, don't rush ! Don't expect to be hooked at the first listening.
Should you wish to spend some time letting these songs get under your skin, then they will slowly reveal their charms - and occasionally, as on the breathily magnificent "Shadow and the Frame", match lang's former glories.
Lyrically, she's not a very interesting songwriter, but then words aren't really her thing.
kd lang's voice is a remarkable instrument, and it's for its instrumental qualities that she writes her long, languorous melodies framed in elaborately simple arrangements, leading to the creation of an intensely moody mood.
It's pretty exquisite stuff - the string charts are just lovely - and stands as a (self-produced) summary of the genres she's dabbled in. Samba, country and jazz are referenced with a sophisticated passing wink, but no more.
This beautiful CD sees her re-embracing the gorgeous balladry of "Ingenue", infusing everything with a gentle country twang in the process.
"I Dream of Spring", "Once in a While" and "Sunday" are magisterial, showcasing that knife-through-butter voice.
"Flame of the Uninspired", is full of unsentimental regret, and the growly "Jealous Dog" recalls a female Johnny Cash.
Sounding more than ever like a velvet-voiced Patsy Cline, Lang is on near-perfect form on this astonishing album:lang always appears perfectly matched to her material, so convincing is her interpretation of everything she touches.
There is huge pleasure to be had from the rich, sensual power of her voice.
Twentyfive years on, k.d. lang, now 46, can still evoke the sting of adolescent infatuation.

There's no denying that Kathryn Dawn Lang is one of this country's most unique artists. From her early days fronting a Patsy Cline tribute band, to making a big splash into the music biz pool in 1984 with her cowboy boots, old time granny specs, cowboy shirt and hoop skirt. Well-deserved critical acclaim and commercial success soon followed as she continued to set a higher standard with each album released. Her duet with Roy Orbison on "Crying" was magical and her 1982 hit "Constant Craving" was as near to musical perfection as a song could ever be. The cowgirl from Consort, Alberta eventually was awarded the Order Of Canada in 1996. She continued to tour, released a duets album with Tony Bennett, as well as an all covers album, a pseudo-greatest hits album and a live concert album, so she's been busy. However, it's been almost 8 years since she recorded a full CD's worth of new studio material. That's where "Watershed" enters the picture.
The first single released was "I Dream Of Spring". It's a mellow song with just a hint of sultry elegance, lush strings and, surprisingly, a steel guitar that fits in perfectly. This song is a good entrée for what's to come; the subsequent numbers go from sparse to lush-from simple to complex. This is not a flashy, up-tempo disc; for the most part the songs are reminiscent of soundtracks for a rainy day, a brief summer siesta or captured moments in a café. "Coming Home" may be the only exception, with its playful banjo driving the mid-tempo piece to completion. K.D. has proven that most of her songs are what they are because of her voice and this CD is no exception. Her jazzy, soft vocals are a perfect conduit for the material here and there are times where her pauses are as effective as the words sung. This is a K.D. Lang that we are familiar with and her fans will not be disappointed.

There's a very good reason why k.d. lang is one of my most influential and favourite artists of all time. This woman's voice alone is proof that God exists. I don't think there ever was, or ever will be, a voice with such stunning clarity, power, emotion, perfect tone and pitch as k.d.'s voice has. k.d. could sing me directions on how to cook a can of soup, and I'd cry. In fact, she could sing just about ANYTHING and bring audiences to their knees. She has been for years. Whether she was bouncing around the stage during her country days, belting her heart out, or crooning about a woman who would never return her love on 'Ingenue', this woman is IT. She's an absolutely amazing talent, and she is definitely, without a doubt, one of the most underrated artists ever. We haven't heard original music from her for quite some time. And we've been craving it, that's for sure.

But now here comes "Watershed". It's a deeply lush and beautiful collection of ballads, much like 'Ingenue' was, minus the unrequited love part. k.d. has looked inwards again, as deeply as she did on 'Ingenue' and she's coming clean about love, her relationship, and life, of course. She's learned a lot. She has matured. It still has that ol' country sound kicking around in songs like 'I Dream of Spring', 'Coming Home', and 'Jealous Dog'. 'Close your Eyes' comes across to me as a deeply spiritual song, but there's something so exquisitely sexy about k.d. crooning in my ears to close my eyes. This woman makes me swoon. 'Once in a While' talks about how we drive our lovers crazy 'once in a while', but we also strive to make them happy and smile, right? 'Thread' is a catchy tune with highly confessional lyrics about losing out on someone, perhaps? 'Je Fais la Planche', is a deliciously slow, crooner of an existential trip. k.d. has apparently eaten some crow and confessed to it, in "Flame of the Uninspired". Beautiful, rich, song. I hope it's released as a single, as it could be 'Constant Craving' part II. 'Sunday' took a while to grow on me, but it has this awesome throbbing bass line, as k.d. refers her favourite day of the week to be lazy and lounge around. 'Upstream' is light-hearted and warm and cheeky. 'Shadow and the Frame' reminds me of 'Tears of Love's Recall' in it's quiet, illusive power.

I'm so glad it took k.d. this long to write this album. It has been well worth the wait! We have been richly rewarded with a talent that blesses us whenever k.d. takes pen to paper and writes a song. I don't mind waiting many years if k.d. keeps producing such stunning work. You've got to give it a listen. It creeps up on you slowly, and then drenches you with exquisite melodies, lyrics, honesty, and That Voice. Just buy it already.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Always beautiful
I have been a fan of k.d. lang since the first time I saw her perform at the 1986 Vancouver BC Expo. She was such a breath of fresh air then as she is now. Read more

Published on Mar 20 2010 by N. Levesque

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