It might comes a bit of a surprise to discover that this is Kim Deal‘s first solo album. After all, the indie icon first came to prominence in the second half of the 1980s as the bass player in the Pixies, and whilst still a member of that seminal band became the frontwoman of indie supergroup The Breeders, as well as later forming The Amps. All very impressive – but this latest chapter shows that she still has a number of surprises to give us.
That’s not to say she has severed all links with the past – there’s input from erstwhile Breeders members (including twin sister Kelley) and the late, great Steve Albini engineered (he never did like the word ‘producer’) many of the tracks. If you are expecting the sounds of leftfield indie rock, you will find them in part here, but it’s interesting to hear how many different textures she’s playing with on this album.
The album opens with the title track; unmistakeably her voice, definitely her distinctive songwriting, yet there’s also a gorgeous cinematic thing going on, which is very lovely indeed. This level of surprise continues into the next song ‘Coast‘ where the very effective use of brass adds a lovely summery feel. (This would be welcome at any time but never more so than at the moment.) What this means is a sheer contrast, then, on tracks like the brooding and urgent ‘Crystal Breath‘ which is simultaneously both more electronica and guitar led, but also the fact that ‘Disobedience‘ is an indie guitar track. You suspect that were she signed to a major they’d be hoping for an album full of tracks like this – thankfully for her and us she is on 4AD.
There’s also the heartbreaking ‘Are You Mine‘ which reflects on her experience of her mother’s dementia: ‘Are You Mine? Are you my baby?’ It’s got a country feel, which briefly evokes The Breeders track ‘Off You.’ The Deal family are also evoked on ‘Summerland.’ It was written on a ukulele given to Kim as a gift from Albini and his wife Heather, after Kim and Kelley handled the music at the couple’s Hawaiian wedding. The orchestra was later recorded by Albini in a single take. The title reflects Kim’s longstanding tradition of spending winters with her parents in the same Florida Keys house – a trip they loved, but that she did not enjoy.
So, her own debut solo album may have been a long time coming, but it’s here and we should be thankful. Hopefully it’s arrived just in time to be considered for the end of year best-of lists set to circulate any moment now, and definitely a new and exciting chapter in her career. Many of us fell for us in more ways than one over decades ago, and it’s a delight to have her here and still calling us to her.
