'And we all fall down slack-jawed to marvel at words!'

That's actual words like 'ululate', 'rheum' and - most magnificently and perhaps representing a first in the annals of popular song - 'dirigible', and idiosyncratic made-up words like 'gasplessly', 'goneness' and 'nonsleepy'. Yes indeed, there's head-scratchingly delightful expressiveness

'When you go away
I am big-boned and fey'

at every turn on the formal debut album from twentysomething alt-harpist Joanna Newsom. And with it, verily, Spring is sprung.

The milk-eyed mender (on Drag City) is a singularly captivating bow. Spare but never austere, it's uncompromising without being 'difficult'. These are simply songs after all - some quite folky, others less easy to classify - and many uncommonly pretty ones at that. The fact that her instrument of choice is the classical harp would normally be enough to make her stand out from the neo-folk-pop pack but this aspect is unfortunately destined to be totally overshadowed by discussion of The Voice. There aren't many out there as yet but every review of this record you're likely to read will be dominated by this factor. Names like Kate Bush and Bjork will be endlessly cited. reallyrather probably wouldn't be thanked but Lisa from The Simpsons might be as good a pointer as any. Child-like, by turns penetrating and soft, it's a fearless, charming and thrilling thing, much like the record itself wherein...

...loveliness abounds. Bridges and balloons and Sprout and the bean, at once robust and twinkling, set the tone - just rhythmically picked harp plus vocal - and the standard. They're at least matched further in by wistful charmers like Swansea, Cassiopeia and "En Gallop" (the latter containing one of few extended harp breaks). The book of right-on, a uniquely swinging little plucker with a deeply embedded groove, stands out also as the least lyrically baffling, apparently treating the frustrating self-conciousness of New Man:

And even when you touch my face
You know your place

Switching to piano/harpsicord on a couple of songs brings out an extra vocal stridency - a Tom Lehrer-like stomp drives Inflamatory writ, Newsom's voice taking on an Oberstian quaver midway - but the Wurlitzer has a more calming effect. Augmented by Noah Georgeson's slide guitar glances, the sweet and lovely This side of the blue might be the record's best hope for radio (but don't hold your breath).
Wide-eyed but rooted, determined but not intense, The milked-eyed mender shouldn't be bought for novelty value, or as a badge of anyone's outre taste, but simply for the rather wonderful music. Sam Parton of The Be Good Tanyas, Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis, Andy Partridge, Rosie Thomas, Nina Nastasia - reallyrather is guessing that folks like these will 'get' it. You should get it too...

Speaking of the Be Good Tanyas, things seem to be stirring at last, at least on the website...

The latest edition of Comes With A Smile is just out featuring interviews & music from Richmond Fontaine, Sloan, Limbeck, Clem Snide, etc...

...and a good bet to feature in the next edition is The last Town Chorus who recently dipped their toe into Europe with a few London dates. To help conjure up their distinctive brand of moody twang-noir Megan (lap steel) and Nat (guitar) brought along keyboards ally Greg whose photo-diary of the trip is up over here. And their eponymous debut album picks up a review over at BBC Collective...

Another duo making a low-key London debut is Sweden's Laurel Music who are pencilled in at ROTA, the free afternoon session at Notting Hill Arts Club on April 10. Sweet, guileless country pop seems to be their thing - mmmm - and new little UK indie Stereo Test Kit Records (who?, how?) is bringing to the people...
Laurel Music | stereo test kit records | the way love goes mp3

So, they go and put out the reallyrather album of the year for 2003 and then this happens:
'"A lot of people are misunderstanding what's going on. We're going to make an official announcement when we need to." So consider this an unofficial announcement: Nadine as we know it is ending. The full band is expected to wind down in May, with Reichmann and Rauner continuing as a duo.' STLtoday has the scoop...

Meanwhile, Denison Witmer, set to tour the UK in harness with Charlemagne, calls by the 12 Bar Club in London May 17...