KEY POINTS:
Leslie Feist has sung with several bands, including Broken Social Scene and Kings of Convenience but here she showcases her unusual songwriting on her third solo release. Whereas her last big seller sprinkled folky melodies over loungey electronica, this is an enchanting mix of unconventional pop and porch music that is best experienced in solitude.
Although her voice is delicate, the songs still pack a punch. Particularly the sassy folk-pop I Feel It All, the strong-spirited My Moon My Man, and the Cat Power-ish Past in Present. When the sun goes down she switches into ballad mode without going overboard. The Park and The Water are haunting rather than mushy.
Still, much as her name doesn't give much away, there's a distance Feist's music evokes, a ghostliness in her voice that occasionally begs to be brought to life.
But it's diverse enough to keep you guessing. Sealion chops up an African chorus line with handclaps, 1234 has everything from banjo to horns and piano and Honey Honey finds a surprising balance between her honey-soaked vocal, harp and electric guitar.
The effect is odd but that's what strikes you about Feist's work - it's intriguing from beginning to end.
Label: Polydor
Verdict: Canadian indie queen still mesmerising
