The Canadian artist Cat Clyde surrounds this fourth album with the notion of love being absent in her life, and not exactly being sure how to even find it. To tackle the theme, she recruited the producer Drew Vandenberg, who helps out with instrumentation, too, for 11 tunes that can get vulnerable but also roar.
The appropriate question, “Where Is My Love,” starts with Clyde’s distinct voice and quite animated backdrop via the buzzing guitar and a scrappy rhythm section. “Man’s World” then follows with both acoustic and plugged in guitar that straddles folk-rock with frisky, rockabilly fun.
Deeper into Side A, “Wild One” is actually a bit tame but certainly melodic with a hint of grit, and “Dark Back” continues the cautious mood with strong attention to ambience and eloquent wordplay. “I Am Now” finishes the first half with emotive piano and soft singing that eventually makes way for dreamy guitar.
The second half of the record leads with the soft versus dense song craft of “My Love,” while “Wanna Ride” carries a rowdy fueled spirit that’s raw, bouncy and full of head bobbin’, toe tappin’ sounds that suit the sometimes snarled vocals that could incite a bar brawl.
“Press Down” and “Another Time” exit the listen. The former comes with a retro mood thanks to the bright keys, punchy drums and sharp guitars, and the latter finishes with some haze, plenty of pensiveness and profound introspection.
Even though the songs here were penned in various places all over the world, the album flows together cohesively, where reflection, discovery and power are all radiated with nods to country and punk and just about everywhere in between.
I had never heard of Clyde before this, but by the third song I knew I’d be a lifelong fan. I’m thinking you’ll feel the same way.