Somewhere in between living with
Peaches, playing guitar with
By Divine Right, rapping with
Chilly Gonzales, and singing with
Broken Social Scene and
Apostle of Hustle, Canadian songstress
Feist started a solo career. Following up 1999's self-released Monarch,
Let It Die was recorded in Paris between 2002 and 2003. The romance of the City of Lights glows throughout as a combination of folk, bossa nova, jazz-pop, and indie rock finds its place among the 11-track song list. She'll woo you with her sultry vocals throughout, a delicate and sweet voice that feels cozy. From the warm shimmy and shake of "Gatekeeper" and "Mushaboom" to the classy R&B grooves of "One Evening" and "Leisure Suite,"
Feist explores various musical worlds without getting lost. She reels you into different soundscapes and it's an exciting adventure. Dare yourself to imagine
Patrice Rushen,
Ivy's
Dominique Durand, and
Astrud Gilberto in a group, and that's basically the beginning threads of
Let It Die.
Feist never holds back sonically or musically; however,
Let It Die isn't an extravagant first album. She's playful with her design and the overall composition flows nicely.
Feist has varied styles and sounds just right, and that's what makes
Let It Die the secret treasure that it is. Her rendition of
Ron Sexsmith's "Secret Heart" is a cinematic outing for a dewy spring day.
The Bee Gees' "Inside and Out" gets a foxy makeover for what is probably the album's finest moment.
Feist's soft touch makes magic on these particular covers, and the bittersweet loveliness of
Blossom Dearie's "Now at Last" ties it all together to make
Let It Die a storybook romance. ~ MacKenzie Wilson