Sarah Cracknell - Red Kite (Cherry Red Records)

Sarah Cracknell is best known for her work with the indie pop/dance trio, Saint Etienne. And after all these years, Red Kite is only her second solo album (the last was Lipslide in 1997). Her new album was recorded in two weeks in the British countryside, recorded and produced by Carwyn Ellis (Colorama) and Seb Lewsley (Edwyn Collins/The Cribs). It features guest appearances from Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers) and The Rails (Richard and Linda Thompson’s daughter Kami). So what does that tell you? It is not overly complicated with too many layers or overproduced; rather, it mixes and matches various musical styles that Sarah inhabits like she’s an old friend. In fact, the whole experience of listening to this lovely record is like wearing a faded pair of the most comfortable jeans.

Sarah was once one of a horde of guest vocalists that performed in Saint Etienne, but she rose to the surface with her sheer talent. Her airy voice hints of expansive green lawns on misty English estates with carefully manicured gardens, and one is reminded (more than just a little at times) of The Supremes. Pastoral it is, especially on opening track “On The Swings”, which is a perfect little slice of summer about that unattainable woman. On “Nothing Left to Talk About”, Nicky Wire offers an alternating viewpoint with Sarah’s narrative, and the gorgeous pop triptych “In the Dark” is rife with lightly brushed strings (harp, perhaps) and offers up some very charming chamber pop. In fact, it sounds like something Nick Drake might have recorded all those years ago. “Ragdoll”, with its mannered but sprightly vocals and pretty melodies could well have been at home on the ‘60s charts. “Underneath the Stars” is for slow dancing barefoot on a twilit summer evening, crickets chirping percussively in the distance, only to be overcome by melancholy with its sad tale.

“Hearts Are for Breaking” bursts from the gate in sunny pop splendor, and the listener is once again dowsed with a cynical tale, shading the sun suddenly with fast moving rain clouds. “Take the Silver” features The Rails, and it’s a straightforward tale. “Mutineer” is a Mojave 3 cover, and pushes some interesting textures to the forefront, including accordion that nicely accents this tune. “I Close My Eyes” is all about atmosphere and is very noirish and perfect for a spy flick. One could imagine Air pulling this one off, though not with a vocalist as elegant as Cracknell. You can certainly hear the influence of bands like The Left Banke, which is all to Cracknell’s credit. Whether she draws from Brian Wilson or Mike Brown, she handles it all respectfully and puts her whole heart into it. “I Am Not Your Enemy” veers into Stereolab/Death and Vanilla territory with its heavily reverbed surf guitar and vintage keys and Ennio Morricone feel. “Favourite Chair” closes out this wonderful pop record with Sarah’s gentle, clear voice, coaxing the listener to somnolence as if serenading us with a lullabye. All in all, a fitting end to this beautiful record.

Order information for this release can be found here.