FIONA APPLE plays Sound Academy July 4. See listing. Rating: NNNN
Some of us cynics doubted the buzz surrounding Fiona Apple’s first album in seven years. It seemed so long since she was culturally relevant, and 90s nostalgia is something we should all be suspicious of. Thankfully, Apple’s return to music is not only undeniably powerful, but Idler is arguably her best work yet. It’s strange, raw and grabs your attention the way few modern albums can.
On her last record, Extraordinary Machine, the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach to the arrangements and instrumentation seemed awkward and contrived. This time around it works, resulting in a type of twisted soul music that feels timeless. More striking and important than the quirky sonic palette, though, are Apple’s vocals. She moves easily from a jazz-inflected lilt to a guttural wail to a clenched-teeth snarl to a joyfully unhinged howl.
If this is what happens when Apple takes seven years to make a disc, maybe we should be this patient more often.
Top track: Hot Knife
