(Kill Rock Stars)
If you didn’t know better, on first listen you would probably think
that Jeff Hanson was a woman. His voice is high-pitched and precise,
and he uses inflections that are ordinarily the terrain of the fairer
sex. Its initial novelty aside, there is no denying the beauty of his
singing, especially when it’s matched with the lush orchestration of
Madam Owl.
On his two previous albums, Hanson stuck to a more traditional
sound, playing drums, bass, and guitar as a one-man band. Owl departs from the modern folk of those albums, opting instead for a more
classical feel. It’s probably fair to assume that, in the three years
since his last record, Hanson’s been listening to a lot of Joanna
Newsom. Like Newsom, Hanson has rejuvenated his once stripped-down folk
by adding string arrangements. Different styles and instrumental
combinations are scattered throughout the record, some more effective
than others in showcasing Hanson’s gender-bending croon. “If Only I
Knew” is a back-country banjo foot-tapper with a thumping kick drum
pulse; “Careful” is just strings and delicate guitar, reminiscent of
Pink Moon–era Nick Drake.
Though pretty, Hanson’s voice can be off-putting when left alone to
showcase whiny, wispy “oooohs” on the stripped-down tracks “No Never
Mine” and “I Don’t Quite Remember.” The most lively and energetic tunes
on Madam Owl—and subsequently the most enjoyable—are
the ones with the most instrumentation. The record starts with three
such momentous songs before it decelerates into more melancholic
territory, never quite regaining steam. Madam Owl is a strong
effort that would be superb if only it stayed invigorated where instead
it wafts, lingers, and sadly slinks away.