Outsiders
Mama Bird, 2022
9/10
The Oregon singer-songwriter Anna Tivel returns with an album mostly recorded live to tape, where her honest version of folk-rock takes help from many of the players from her excellent record, The Question.
Tivel places the title track in the lead off position, where her expressive voice is met with Shane Leonard’s well timed drums and a darker spirit of atmospheric folk sounds, and “Black Umbrella” follows with soft guitar, poetic singing and the sort of cautiousness that’s also a bit mysterious.
“Two Dark Horses” and “Royal Blue” land in the middle, where the former is quite gentle, and pairs Tivel’s stirring pipes with graceful piano, while the latter uses synth strategically in the more upbeat demeanor that buzzes calmly.
Arriving near the end, “Invisible Man” is full of playful drumming and a rhythmic, lush delivery that makes this the album’s best, and “The Bell” exits the listen with twinkling acoustic guitar and vivid storytelling in the bare but impactful songwriting.
Certainly a raw recording due to the analog nature, there’s much beauty to be found here, and the themes surround topics of love, loss and loneliness amid the touches of ambience and atypical percussion that only enhances her version of modern folk.
Travels well with: Caitlin Rose- Own Side Now; Andrea Von Kampen- Old Country