Basia Bulat – Heart Of My Own

Rating:

I remember Basia Bulat’s name leaving more of an impression on me than her music. Being an NPR addict, I vaguely recall hearing World Cafe would be speaking with Basia Bulat and the only lasting impression left on me was that it was an odd name. While the 10-second clip from Oh, My Darling did nothing for me, it seems like a pretty tall order to amaze anyone with a few seconds of music on a small alarm clock radio. So being able to revisit her newest album with proper audio equipment and deserved attention was a nice surprise. I meant no offense by the slight a few years back Ms. Bulat; it was simply circumstance.

Heart of My Own is Bulat’s second full-length and second collaboration with producer (and ex-Arcade Fire member) Howard Bilerman. The album has a nice balance of production value: it sounds too slick for a good home studio but doesn’t lose the intimacy like many overproduced pop albums can have. I personally hate when music that should be listened to in a coffee shop or open mic night sounds like Danny Elfman had has 100-piece orchestra give it a once over. There’s a time and place for large-scale productions and lets leave it for the radio and TV.

Bulat has a dark desperation in her voice that is neither half-empty nor half-full but is simply crestfallen and accepting of the state of half. Her voice is so complimentary to the album’s tone because most of the songs have hints of both melancholy and upbeat optimism. It is like perseverance vocalized. “Go On” opens up the album with a Celtic or almost maritime feel. The lyrics All those shadows coming after you is very indicative of the song’s mood. It is a little odd for an album to open up on a blue note but I think the song still captures an energy intensity that is required for an opening track. “Run” has more of a light-hearted oldies sound to it (autoharp and all) and could easily have been listened to over a jukebox with a chocolate malt and two straws. “Gold Rush” and “Heart of My Own” have a desolate Appalachian feel to them. They’re incredibly strong songs that aren’t quite sad, but just hint at the ocean of emotions just underneath the skin. Their beauty lies in the tension like a wave about to come crashing down at any minute: beauty and disaster are one. The next few songs are rather radio friendly in the Ingrid Michaelson/ KT Tunstall vein. They’re certainly not bad songs but are a bit of a lull from the previous 4 tracks. “Once More for the Dollhouse” gets us right back in place as it really showcases the strength and beauty of her voice. Bulat can have strength within her restraint and sounds more powerful than the more famous Canadian female vocalist who seems to think, like the Titanic, size equals power. And as a final aside: the back-up vocals on this album are absolutely haunting. It adds such a great depth to the songs that too many artists don’t realize. Back-up vocals have a voice of their own and should create a synergy and not just to fill up some “empty space”.

Overall Heart of My Own shines as the second gold star for this Canadian darling who seemingly can do no wrong because there are really no bad songs on the album. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are some songs that absolutely outshine others…but even these out-shined songs have merit and stand to the best work of other artists in the genre. Because in the end this is an album of variety: from marching snares, dulcimers and autoharps to banjos, violins, and ukuleles all coming together under the guidance of Bulat to weave an album that should appeal to a wide range of listeners and not compromising quality along the way.

“Gold Rush” is a warm blanket of sorrow that gives me solace.

Basia Bulat – Heart of My Own