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After listening to July Flame, the seventh studio album from folk-indie singer-songwriter Laura Veirs, for the first time there was a sudden urge to see what this woman actually looked like. The images of some mildly eccentric American decked out in polka dots were immediately vanquished when I saw this unassuming female singer free from the mystical persona that creates intrigue in artists such as Bat For Lashes’ Natasha Khan or Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes. In a way this does go to prove that you can never judge music by the image that the artist chooses to convey.
It is true that this is an artist who, being over a decade into a recording career, has failed to gain much recognition, both in Britain and back in America. However, if this album is unable to grab hold of some kudos (or at least some cursory attention) then she may as well curse the fates and pack up her guitar for while she is armed with a moderately acclaimed back catalogue she appears to have produced her magnum opus.
In her music Laura Veirs is able to marry the arts of indie-folk and a dream like production, so much in fact that most of the songs could easily be the soundtrack to some glorious nature-based daydreams involving the act of skipping through an orchard or playing hide-and-seek in a wheat field (the latter of which evoked by the penultimate track 'Carol Kaye'). In the title track, supposedly inspired by a species of peach that she found in a farmers market, she showcases her ethereal vocals atop layers of synths, guitars and drums until it becomes the musical equivalent of honey as she cries “Can I call you mine?”. Such beautiful productions are resplendent throughout the entire album with each of the tracks taking on their own characters with their own hopes, joys and cares.
Whilst all the songs maintain an edge of melancholy, you never see Laura Veirs surrender to the darkness; her voice always remains overwhelmingly warm and hopeful. This works perfectly in tandem with the wonderfully rendered production, supplied by her boyfriend Tucker Martine, which the listener finds themselves completely encapsulated by. With this album being a purely homespun production, having been recorded mainly in her backroom, it is amazing how July Flame can sound so perfectly executed in its deceivingly complex subtlety. Always beguiling and acting as a kindred nocturnal spirit to Moon Pix, the true masterpiece in the Cat Power discography, July Flame will possibly remain unchallenged for the rest of 2010 as the ultimate album to be enjoyed as the world decided to shut down for the night.
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