Whenever you hear the words 'Canadian singer songwriter', it is tempting to join in with the collective groan but such a response must on all accounts be resisted when it comes to Jennifer Castle.
Having successfully eluded the radar with two albums as Castlemusic, the Toronto-based artist used this moniker as the title for a debut solo album under her own name. This she now follows up with an exquisite record full of richness, maturity and diversity.
With its gorgeous backing of flute, piano and typically classy string arrangements by Owen Pallett, the album has an almost Astral Weeks texture. Castle sings in hushed, intimate tones that draw the listener into her luminous world.
There is a subtle blend of fragility and purposeful resolve with a sprinkling of wry humour too. The otherwise pastoral Nature ends with the line "I lift my skirt for the economy" and a man with troubles is said to be Like A Gun because "he was always going off".
On Down River Kath Bloom guests on harmonica so it seems reasonable to presume that the roots of Castle's music lie in traditional folk music although the upbeat Sparta is more Alt.Country-ish in feel.
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The album closes with another curve ball. The title track, Pink City, with its elegant jazzy saxophone refrain, is the most atypical track but serves to demonstrate that Castle is an artist who is not concerned about sticking within one niche. It also ends the album in a spirit of optimism as she sings "I'm finding romance at last".
Quality Canadian female artists are universally likened to Joni Mitchell and Jennifer Castle is no exception although, if we're going down this road, I'd say Kate McGarrigle would be equally valid point of reference.
Ultimately, of course, comparisons become odious and all that you really need to know is that is a beautiful record.
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