Voyageur

Singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards moves beyond roots-rock on her fourth release. Lush production and a full, robust sound give <i>Voyageur</i> a different scope and feel than her previous work, with her usual stripped-down arrangements replaced by layers of organ, tremolo guitars, and thick vocal harmonies. Her songwriting is equally ambitious. There’s palpable weariness in these songs but also a desire for catharsis. The delicate “A Soft Place to Land” and “House Full of Empty Rooms” deal directly with heartbreak, while the music's urgency in “Chameleon/Comedian” and “Going to Hell” contrast the vulnerable vocals. The forlorn “Pink Champagne” features hazy ambient noise, the orchestral “Change the Sheets” builds to a full-blown chorus, and “Sidecar” and “Mint” come closest to the guitar-based Americana she’s best known for. Coproduced by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, <i>Voyageur</i> does carry some trademarks of his sound (namely the sonic density), yet it’s clearly Edwards’ show.