Kathryn Calder - Are You My Mother?

It's been two years since Kathryn Calder recorded the songs for her new album Are You My Mother? (August 10), an album that reflects both the grief and devastation on the loss of her mother and the acceptance of life as both a series of ends and beginnings. For Calder, member of Canada's acclaimed New Pornographers musical outfit, Mother is a deeply personal excursion but this is not an album shrouded in a mourner's black veil. Recorded at her Victoria home in 2008 but put on hold as she cared for her terminally ill mother, Calder's intricately detailed and melodic songs celebrate life in vivid and often joyous tones.

The sound is uncluttered thanks to Calder and producer Colin Stewart's emphasis on sticking to the basics, letting the organic sound of piano and voice set the simple soundstage. "Slip Away" builds from a gentle piano chord and hand-clapped rhythm into an exuberant pop chorus of harmony and bright colors, staggered drum shots and whispered vocals accompanying the twisting, turning melody. "Arrow" is a gorgeous chamber pop waltz that wraps around your head like a warm comforter, belying the lyric's half defiant, half resigned pronouncement: "What more can I say except 'fire away'?". Guests on Are You My Mother include fellow Pornographers Neko Case, Kurt Dahle and Todd Fancey. Highly recommended (and available digitally now).

Kathryn Calder - "Slip Away" (from the album Are You My Mother?)

Kathryn Calder - "Arrow" (from the album Are You My Mother?)