Zee Avi - Ghostbird

Zee Avi - "Singer/songwriter as confectioner" writes The NY TIMES of Malaysian-born Brooklynite Avi and her latest album -- sweet, soft centered songs that seem to waft by on a beach breeze...the cotton candy textures and mellow vibes initially may make your teeth hurt but the saving grace here is the simple, unpretentious way the tracks, often rhythmic good-mood pieces built around a ukulele strum, can creep into your psyche and just chill for a while // Release: Ghostbird (August 23, Brushfire) // Sounds like: the former youtube sensation found a kindred spirit in Brushfire co-chief (and major draw) Jack Johnson and Avi's relaxed folk charmers feel like the ideal segue...Brazilian producer Mario Caldato, Jr. (Beastie Boys, Bebel Gilberto) finds a way to infuse these songs with a cool trans-continental sheen a la a stripped-down Graceland at times...Avi's effortlessly airy voice has a seductive naturalness in both tone and style...

Quote: "Every song has a different mood, every song is a different voice, every song is a different story...So it's a little scavenger hunt when you listen to it.” // What we like: "Swell Window" -- named for the ideal surfing waves caused post-storm -- practically dares you to resist (a futile act, we might add): listen to the way the notes practically sparkle when she sings "I will catch you again"..."The Book of Morris Johnson", with off-kilter, calypso beat, hand claps and croaking frog noises is a swaying, smile-inducing gem...

 

Zee Avi - "The Book of Morris Johnson" (from Ghostbird)

Zee Avi - "Swell Window" (from Ghostbird)