The Starter Wife
Pleasure Loves Company, 2022
9/10
This is the 6th album from the Louisiana songstress Daphne Parker Powell, and the first one under her new name following a difficult divorce, which is what this entire listen surrounds.
“Little Prince” opens the listen with Powell’s powerful voice and stirring strings that emits a very elegant and emotive display, and the title track continues with warm guitar and well timed keys, as the expressive singing guides the rootsy climate that’s lyrically very forthright.
Further on, “Sentimental Pessimism, Pt. 1” emits a breezy melody alongside the crisp drums and poetic singing, while “Ghosting”, the best track present, is particularly striking and meshes the mature violin and keys amid Powell’s devastating vocals.
Near to the end, “Murderer’s Row” combines classical strings and piano balladry to even further enthrall us, and “Worth The Weight” exits with a pensive and eloquent delivery of a very distinct version of folk-rock.
This isn’t the album that Powell wanted to write, but the cathartic and therapeutic process of doing so was certainly liberating, and her substantial lyricism combined with Kieran Ledwidge’s sublime violin really does captivate the listener from beginning to end.
Travels well with: Bailey Bigger- Coyote Red; Oberon Rose- Holographic Blues