Strange Medicine
Free Dirt, 2024
8/10
The Canadian vocalist Kaia Kater is in fine company here, where guest vocalists Aoife O’Donovan, Allison Russell and Taj Mahal, plus others, are along for these 10 folk spirited songs.
“The Witch” starts the listen with O’Donovan’s expressive pipes and Phil Melanson’s skilled drumming that suits the strong attention to atmosphere and jazz ideas, and “Maker Taker” follows with Kater’s soft banjo alongside poetic singing.
“The Internet” lands in the middle, and is a mesmerizing and dreamy moment of sublime folk songwriting, while “Fédon” uses Rob Moose’s strings and Mahal’s inimitable pipes for the cultured and rich album highlight.
“History In Motion” and “Tigers” exit the listen. The former blends the distinct banjo with Kater’s gorgeous pipes, and the latter finishes with stirring strings and a soft demeanor of tremendous beauty.
A powerful and sometimes haunting affair, Kater’s vision is one of lush and diverse sensibilities, where each track carves out a unique and memorable place to reside.
Travels well with: Chris Pierce- Let All Who Will; Cinder Well- Cadence