Staff Reviews

Nina Nastasia - Outlaster

Review by Neil Ashman

If it wasn't for the fact that Nina Nastasia is so consistent, you'd be tempted suggest that here she has reached an expressive and creative peak.»

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following two gorgeous albums - 2006's 'on leaving' and her stunning 2007 collaboration with dirty three's jim white 'you follow me' - nina nastasia returns with something really quite special. recording once more with steve albini at electrical audio in chicago, nina engaged los angeles instrumentalist and arranger paul bryan (grant lee buffalo, aimee mann, allen toussaint, mavis staples, lucinda williams) to adapt her songs into a score for a small orchestra. featuring drummer jay bellerose (t-bone burnett, joe henry) and chicago guitarist jeff parker (tortoise), 'outlaster' is aided by, all in all, a dream band. this album is a work of lush sophistication that, with no loss of distinction or economy, transcends the reach of nastasia's famed spareness. the orchestra takes a more formal approach with paul bryan's powerfully affecting score burnishing the record with lustrous horns and reeds and a dynamic string ensemble.
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