Healing Power
Sonic Unyon, 2023
9/10
The Canadian artist Terra Lightfoot returns with a 6th album, where her multi-octave voice guides us across powerful, rock focused songs that were listed as a nominee for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.
The energetic and dance floor ready “Cross Border Lovers” begins the listen with Lightfoot’s soaring voice alongside Glenn Milchim’s thumping drums and rich synth, and “Need You Tonight” follows with both ruggedness and melody populating the soulful qualities that benefit from Elijah Abrams’ skilled bass lines.
Further along, “Kept You In My Pocket” trims the volume back with a retro-spirit that uses Gus van Go’s atmospheric percussion and synth with much care, while “Come Back Around” is a stylish album highlight that’s anthemic and busy, where Lightfoot handles guitar, synth, and, of course, singing.
Residing near the end, “You Don’t Get Me Now” injects hand percussion into the classic rock nods of the bouncy climate, and “Out Of Time” exits with David Matta behind the drum kit for harmonic and rich love song.
An appropriately titled listen, the songs here were penned when Lightfoot was setting into love the long way and doing much soul searching about her place in the world. Musically, they’re all over the map, and touch on roots, Americana, soul and indie-rock with a vision and execution that few could parallel.
Travels well with: Mo Kenney- Covers; Skye Wallace- Skye Wallace