La Grande

Portland-based singer-songwriter Laura Gibson offers a somewhat varied album, in tone of the songs and especially in instruments selected. Nylon string guitar, double bass, and pump organ make frequent appearances, accented by marimbas, vibraphones, oboes, viola, etc. (check the liners for fave instruments). Gibson's lightly jazzy, often distorted to (trendily?) sound "vintage" voice guides the songs, which are inspired by places in NE Oregon and written about moving into the future. Members of Calexico, The Decemberists, The Dodos guest.

RIYL Americana, female singer-songwriters, Feist, coffeeshop soundtracks

**1 (3:50) Driving drums, Western feel, howling guitars, echoing vocals, whispers in the background, puts cowboys on the mind
2 (2:56) Slow, lightly jazzy, fingerpicked guitar; love song
3 (4:06) Tropicalia-influenced, big woodwind section, light, distorted
4 (3:48) Big, soaring sound with heavy layers of backing vocals takes turns in the spotlight with Gibson's haunting voice; not-so-subtle sex lyrics
5 (3:04) Cooing, heavily effected vox to sound like an old jazz piece. Soothing
6 (2:56) Waltz sample, lazy summer nighttime campfire feel
*7 (3:36) Quiet and pretty, touches of woodwinds and brass
*8 (3:33) Quiet intro into stomping groove, Hammond organ features
9 (4:35) Midtempo piece, subdued just a little. Piano sprinkled through a few really great musical parts; slightly slow to start though
10 (3:18) Quiet, piano-driven, clearly written as a closer, about death