Antietam frontwoman
Tara Key, known for her explosive guitar-playing and whiplash energy, takes a more laid-back approach on her solo debut. While the opener, "Northern Star," has an angular, hopped-up feel to it that evokes
Television and
Patti Smith, a lot of the tracks here have an acoustic foundation and an almost pastoral vibe. There are other shades as well, as in the groovy vibe of "Seraphim" or the evocative, eerily controlled storms feedback on the guitar workout "Bends." Primarily, though, the electric guitars take a stripped-down
Velvet Underground approach, or even occasionally slip into chiming, melodic twang. This is a strong effort with the same hauntingly appealing allure of quieter
Yo La Tengo tracks. Speaking of which,
Ira Kaplan and
Georgia Hubley from that group help out with the playing on this album, as do members of
Eleventh Dream Day and Run On. ~ Erik Hage