She earned her reputation on the road, supporting the likes of Ani Di Franco and the Be Good Tanyas. However, Erin McKeown has long since won her own audience.
An immediately recognisable, slightly nasal-sounding voice is just one of her trademarks. Versatility is another, with her fourth album markedly different to its 2003 predecessor, Grand, which offered a largely acoustic backdrop for her quirky, off-kilter compositions.
Working with producer Tucker Marine (Jim White, Laura Veirs) We Will Become Like Birds is a more full-on electric affair and all the better for it.
Echoes of like-minded female torch-bearers such as Aimee Mann, Natalie Merchant and even Joni Mitchell abound but it’s the quality of the songs that impresses most.
The sublime ‘Air’, with its syncopated snare drum and spacey, almost trip-hop feel is just one highlight as is the wistful, slow-burner ‘Float’, which does just that.
With a simple Fender-Rhodes keyboard backing and sparse electric guitar, ‘Delicate December’ features a duet with singer-songwriter (and regular Irish visitor) Peter Mulvey, while ‘We Are More’ rolls along over a shuffle-beat and African ‘hi-life’ guitar motif.
Great songs, crisp, no-nonsense production and sympathetic backing makes this a winner – and it gets better with every listen!