Dawnbreaker
Nonesuch, 2019
9/10
Probably best known as 1/3 of the folk outfit Mountain Man, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig’s solo vehicle, Daughter Of Swords, began in 2017 when the songstress was in the midst of ending a relationship. Though she has been away from music in recent years, instead deciding to work on a farm, Dawnbreaker and a 2018 album from Mountain Man have her back in fine form and as articulate and expressive as ever.
“Fellows” starts the listen with soft acoustic guitar and raw vocals from Sauser-Monnig, and “Gem” follows with a fuller sound where a drum machine and playful guitar work well with the pretty, soaring vocals.
While Sauser-Monnig is certainly the focus of the tunes, on “Fields Of Gold” she gets plenty of help on guitars and percussion for a lush, indie-folk highlight, and the sparse “Grasses” really illustrates the strong vocal work present, and bares the most resemblance to Mountain Man.
The back half of the album is even better, with the soulful, country influenced “Easy Is Hard”, the frisky, summery setting of “Rising Sun”, and the minimalistic “Long Leaf Pine”, where a pair of backing vocals add greatly to the gentle elegance. The title track ends the listen just as it started, with Sauser-Monnig’s intimate vocals and inviting guitar work reeling us into her radiant beauty.
Though she had been on music hiatus for nearly a decade, Dawnbreaker is a stunning return to her art, that, while on the surface may seem like a hushed break up record, offers plenty of hope, change and even liberation amid her thoughtful, meticulous song craft.
Travels well with: Iron & Wine- Our Endless Numbered Days; The Shins- Chutes Too Narrow