Folk Songs
Kronos Quartet
Nonesuch
Four stars
On Folk Songs, experimental San Francisco-based crew Kronos Quartet focus on pieces from the traditional French, British and North American songbooks. Aided by guest vocalists Sam Amidon, Olivia Chaney, Rhiannon Giddens and Natalie Merchant, the instrumental group presents a stirring nine-song cycle that is rich, emotive and subtle.
The stark Appalachian stylings of Oh Where, led by Amidon, is otherworldly, with the strings, courtesy of violinists David Harrington and John Sherba, hanging like dense fog. More sonic austerity is found on The Butcher's Boy, the highlight of which is the delicate take by one of rock's great underrated vocalists, Natalie Merchant.
With the quietly thrilling and instrumental Last Kind of Words, the group takes over and injects the standard with a newfound bluesy swagger. English folk singer Olivia Chaney delivers a winning jazz vocal on Montaigne, que tu es haute.
It lasts less than three minutes, but the track brims with dynamism as Chaney deftly moves from straight performance to almost improvising, with the quartet just a second or two behind with tasteful baroque strings. Beautiful and haunting, Folk Songs offers an evocative insight into a rich songwriting tradition.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
