kd lang
Watershed
Nonesuch
Rating:****
Canada's Sapphic balladeer returns, and this self-produced offering does not disappoint.
As with most good red wines, Ms Lang has certainly improved with age, and a whole lotta lovin' in her relationship.
That she has overcome her writer's block is clearly evident, with introspective lyrics like: "My very nature is to criticise, to cut myself down to size." And "Does the taste for truth disappear with youth?"
This album covers most of the genres lang has previously explored, but mostly just with a passing reference, not committing herself to any particular sound: the langourous balladry of country-infused twang, a bit of bossa nova, adult contemporary and vintage pop and some folksy blues.
What I enjoyed most was the silky-smooth strings arrangement throughout. The production is slick, polished and the mostly self-penned lyrics hark back to the halcyon days of lang's 1992 Ingenue.
The singer's main asset and instrument, her voice, is her ally; it is accessible, soothing, subtle and borderline sexy.
A quick listen to Once In A While Or Sunday serves to reaffirm that, after almost eight years, fans will find that the wait has been well worth it.