Watershed – k d lang | CD Review

(Nonesuch/WEA) 5 stars

It took k d lang four years to follow-up her extraordinary covers tribute to fellow Canadian songsmiths, `Hymns of the 49th Parallel’, which quickly earned a niche in many people’s top 100 albums lists.

However, instead of an anticipated `Hymns’ volume two, the mellow-voiced singer now turns on a polished set of originals equal to, if not surpassing her 1992 classic, `Ingenue’.

Where that career-redefining record marked a shift from country twang to torch balladry, `Hymns’ found lang rubbing shoulders with the likes of John Adams, Phillip Glass, Laurie Anderson and Wilco on the boutique Nonesuch label.

`Watershed’ is self-produced – signalling another change of direction for this intriguing musician – with understated string arrangements and subtle, jazzy overtones at times reminiscent (`Shadow and the Frame’) of Joni Mitchell.

There’s even a flamenco touch, courtesy of guitarist Greg Leisz, on the lush opener, `Dream Of Spring’, while `Jealous Dog’ closes the album with a bit of countrified fun.

On the CD’s “deluxe’’ version there’s an enhanced, bonus disc containing a video interview and four live tracks (two songs from `Watershed’ and two from `Hymns’).

Like a fine wine, lang’s elegant, nuanced performances benefit from the slow reveal and already `Watershed’ has a vintage feel about it.

– Mike Daly

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