Feist - The Reminder (2007)
Feist brings an extraordinary number of unique musical experiences to her third proper album, The Reminder. She started with a punk band that opened for the Ramones, roomed with nymphomaniac electronic musician Peaches, recorded with Broken Social Scene, and assisted Kings of Convenience among various other excursions. And thus Leslie adds an outstanding deal of influences via personal interaction to the album creation equation.
Introductory track “So Sorry” tenderly eases the listener into the upcoming experience. Guitar work reservedly creeps through the song alongside Feist’s delicate vocals. Each tremble in pitch and swell in volume indicates the fragility of her voice. But Leslie immediately discredits such wariness on the ensuing “I Feel It All,” a charming pop ditty employing cheerful choral backing and gay twinkling to yield a carefree ambiance. Here Feist puts a significant amount of muscle behind her voice, thereby asserting her vocalization’s durability. In only two songs she illustrates the variability allowed by her malleable vocal chords.
With the first single, “My Moon, My Man,” listeners recognize the incredible consistency of the disc’s relatively upbeat tracks. A deliberate beat drives the song, pushing Feist along throughout. Its subdued pounding matched with somewhat cautious accompanying instrumentation evokes images of extravagant choreographed dances and other such occasions of beauty and grandeur. Her cover of Nina Simone’s “Sea Lion Woman” charms as well. Here insistent clapping, chanting, and building percussion draw in an anxious audience. However, Feist never releases the ever-building tension fully, instead teasing her fans with electric guitar frenzies leading only to yet another period of bashfulness. The infectious indie pop bounce of these tunes paired with the country twang of fellow fast-paced track “Past in Present” solidifies Feist as a remarkable talent within the realm of creating accelerated melodies.
But this marks only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. On more decelerated pieces, Leslie overwhelms listeners with a piercingly beautiful voice often juxtaposed with the most serene instrumentals. An amalgamation of effects only assist in molding the outlandish diversity exhibited. At times Feist’s voice creates an epic echo, frequently it seems daintily muffled by a simple muting device, and still other instances sound as if she sang into a can to record. Yet no matter what tone surfaces, Leslie’s voice rings magnificently.
A testament to her absurd number of influences, Feist showcases a great variety of instruments throughout her tertiary effort. Never boastful, she instead massages different sounds into her work. They come off not awkward and forced, but rather comfortable and natural.
A confused progression marks the main issue arising from the release. Although Feist improves from Let It Die with regard to the logical evolution of a record, something still seems lacking in the department. Though satisfactory, the slightest reordering of various tracks makes this album something outstanding and not simply good.
Leslie Feist creates a musical atmosphere for all to enjoy on The Reminder. Feist brings remarkable versatility to the game; here she cements her status as a fantastic solo performer and not just an exemplary group member.
1 So Sorry 3:12
2 I Feel It All 3:39
3 My Moon My Man 3:48
4 The Park 4:34
5 The Water 4:46
6 Sealion 3:39
7 Past in Present 2:54
8 The Limit to Your Love 4:21
9 1234 3:03
10 Brandy Alexander 3:36
11 Intuition 4:36
12 Honey Honey 3:27
13 How My Heart Behaves 4:26
69.1 4 mb / 192 kbps
http://rapidshare.com/files/115498361/F315T-TR-192-2007_DM.rar