Joanna Newsom - Ys

Wed 31st Jan, 2007 in Music Reviews

Children will sit captivated by stories and fairytales, listening to the weaving words, tracing the drawings with their fingers and fantasising about the worlds that unfold before them. Enter Joanna Newsom, crowned queen. Her new album, Ys, establishes an artist with a unique vision, creating a fantastic fantasy album, with unforgettable feeling and extraordinary ramblings.

Releasing her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, in 2004, Newsom showed the music world what she could do, displaying all of her magnificent talents, or so we thought. Playing the harpsichord, piano and her signature instrument, the harp, songs such as Sprout and the Bean, The book of Right-on and Peach, Plum, Pear explored words like they never had been before. The harp is such an exquisite instrument and its reaction against Newsom’s voice was almost too perfect. Despite this, Ys is a step forward in her repertoire, this time she brought an orchestra.

An acquired taste, yes. It may take you sometime or even many listens to recognise how talented and lovely Newsom’s music really is. Her vocal style is extremely unique, some may say a shriek may relate, however it is this that you grown to love, that and her outstanding songwriting. Her music is worth the patience, for those who take the time, are better off.

A twenty thousand word essay comes to mind, and the thought that this wordy record may be less than happily received by the eagerly waiting public surely crossed Newsom’s crafty mind. However, it’s obvious that she does not make music like this. Instead, this record has been received in high spirits. Captivated and stunned are her audience.

Exploring five songs in just under an hour, Newsom begins the long-lasting flight with Emily, an incredibly descriptive tale of a girl, playful and childlike. Immediately, Newsom’s wordsmith is revealed, she wails, “the yoke, and the axe, and the old smokestacks, and the bale, and the barrow – and everything sloped, like it was dragged from a rope, in the mouth of the south below”. This explosive song introduces you and gives you a glimpse of what’s to come, featuring the entire orchestra and guest vocal harmonies by Emily Newsom, subject and focus, no doubt.

Joanna Newsom sings, and wails, and shrieks, and whispers her heart out, one wonders how she lives to tell the tale. With Monkey & Bear the feeling becomes more and more turbulent, beginning with a four part vocal harmony, reminiscent of the Siren song, Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby, bringing the fable to life, ending with a word of caution, ”(Sooner or later you’ll bury your teeth)”.

In the middle of it all is Sawdust and Diamonds, the best of the record, I think. This song has the ability to make anyone hold their breath with the first pluck of the strings. The most noticeable element is the beautiful melody, bringing Newsom back to just her and the harp. This song seems more personal, “the articulation in our elbows and knees makes us buckle”, and with this, her voice buckles, as does your heart.

Only Skin pushes Newsom from creating a song to writing a ‘piece’, with sections and movements. The longest of the five songs, features flourishing string parts, delicate vocal harmonies (including guest vocals by Bill Callahan a.k.a Smog), and the clanging of a banjo.

Finally, the record ends with Cosmia, which sees Newsom’s lyrics at their simplest (still highly complex), and the harp at its most playful; an intricate love song. She howls to her darling, “And I miss your precious heart”, with folk and country warmed with string orchestra and an accordion, she strikes this line over and over again through her listener.

Breathtaking, Joanna Newsom is truly amazing. She never fails to show her true musicianship and offer her whole self to the craft. She innovates and twists language up and down the mountains, and she writes incredible songs about it.