When The War Comes
Self-Released, 2025
8/10
The recording moniker of the Minnesota resident Andriana Lehr, as Mother Coyote she pens 4 songs about transition, where several local musicians help flesh out the pop fueled listen.
Andy Thompson’s moody keys open with “When The War Comes”, as Coyote’s powerful and mysterious voice enters the dense climate that uses Grady Kenevan’s drums superbly, and “Eden” follows with Jordan Katz’s lively horns complementing the high notes that soar with emotion.
The back half of the listen offers “The Tower” and “Great Unknown”. The former leads with intimacy before building into a textured EP highlight that makes great use of Dan Lawonn’s cello, while the latter emits modern pop ideas amid the playful keys and bright brass.
Coyote is now a mother, and that transition is touched on here with themes of birth, death and soul searching that unfolds with sincerity and a strategic balance of light and dark moments.
Travels well with: Rebecca Aadland- Stronger Broken; The Twins Of Franklin- This Life