In Review...Kathryn Calder, "Are You My Mother?"

Kathryn Calder

Are You My Mother?

There’s no doubt about it: Ex-Immaculate-Machinre-turned-New-Pornographer Kathryn Calder possesses a lovely, expressive voice. But, you know, so do a lot of aspiring singer-songwriters out there (see: reality television).

What separates Calder from the pack is a thoroughly ingrained proficiency with the songwriting process.  Are You My Mother?, a incredibly personal album penned over the two-year span Calder tended to her terminally sick mom, is a promising, highly varied affair that hints at a viable solo career. It houses clamorous pop jingles “Castor and Pollocks”, simple (but certainly not simplistic) heartstring-tuggers “So Easily”, and contagious, near-triumphant sing-a-longs “If You Only Knew” and “Follow".

So, really, there’s a big choice looming in front of Calder: go at it alone, keep the enviable day job with the New Pornographers, or, like Neko, miraculously make time for both. Must be nice to have such options.

-Mykael Sopher

Rating: 3.5/4.0
Web: www.kathryncalder.ca
Choice Cuts: “Castor and Pollux”, “So Easily”
R.I.Y.D. The New Pornographers, Sarah Harmer, Beth Orton
Label: File Under Music