Are You My Mother

Loose, casual, lo-fi albums like this-- the debut solo effort by Neko Case's New Pornographers substitute Kathryn Calder-- often succeed or fail on the strength of their vocal performances. That is especially true of Are You My Mother?, on which Calder's soft, sugary voice is rarely bolstered by more than a few tinkling piano keys or some understated guitar figures with only an unobtrusive tambourine or a shaker to keep time. Her delicate, chirpy tones (reinforced on two tracks by Case's sassier voice) are placed far out front in the mix, which not only points the spotlight squarely at her singing but can also make the instrumental arrangements seem out-of-focus and indistinct in the background. Luckily, though, her voice is interesting-- ceaselessly cute at times, washed-out and wispy at others, but always intriguing.

Pianist and singer Kathryn Calder has seen her role in the New Pornographers increase over the past few years to the point where she often shares lead vocal duties with Neko Case and A.C. Newman. At the same time, Calder’s role in her other band, Immaculate Machine, has noticeably diminished, perhaps in deference to her New Pornos commitments. Somewhere in between playing with two bands, though, Calder found time to both care for her terminally ill mother and record her first solo album. Are You My Mother? was recorded in Lynn Calder’s living room and the album is dedicated to her memory.