Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling Review

It's rare for a Canadian artist who is part of Arcade Fire's circle to remain unnoticed in the U.S. indie scene, but Basia Bulat, who recorded this debut at the band's church studio with its co-producer, Howard Bilerman, has been coasting under the radar so far. The twenty-four-year-old singer-songwriter writes acoustic-guitar-based folk songs built around dramatic crests that highlight her trembling voice. There are traces of Kimya Dawson's childlike simplicity and Joanna Newsom's jazzy vocals here, but Oh, My Darling has a Little House on the Prairie vibe that occasionally verges on quaint. And aside from the bright hand-clap-led hoedown "I Was a Daughter" and the energetically strummed "In the Night," too many tracks keep on the quiet side. But when a circular piano line locks in with the string section on "Snakes and Ladders" and Bulat sings about "the way we come undone," the darkness lurking beneath her pretty melodies finally finds its voice....full text The promotional materials that accompany Oh, My Darling — the debut from Basia Bulat — make the claim that "she found her songs and stories dangling from the trees." While this sort of proclamation might have the effect of sending more jaded music fans running in the opposite direction, it quite accurately describes the aesthetics of these often lovely, if overly precious songs. There is something very elfin and gypsy-like about the tunes on Oh, My Darling, and whether or not one enjoys them depends entirely on how much one is willing to suspend his or her cynicism and allow Bulat to take charge.

Over the course of Oh, My Darling’s 13 songs — which total roughly 38 minutes in length — Bulat’s lovely voice and sparsely arranged tunes explore a variety of situations, ranging from romance and betrayal to birth and death. Looking like a pixie-ish Britney Spears in Stevie Nicks hand-me-downs, Bulat is something of an enigma. However beautiful and talented she may be, her songs illuminate a world of transience, longing, and disappointment, thus providing an indication that she knows full well that looks alone are not enough to get a person through life....full text Canadian singer-songwriter Basia Bulat makes a big leap onto the music scene with her debut Oh, My Darling, a lush album practically brimming over with joy and wonder. Anchored by the disc's first single, "In The Night," which plays like the merriest of romps through a nighttime wonderland, this young artist (who recently toured as a background singer for The Veils) has a natural sense of melody and whimsy that permeates just about every note on the album....full text