A Review of "Voyageur" Some albums just have the aura of being an event. This may be the result of great public expectations (Feist, Metals), or perhaps the feeling that a long-established band has successfully recharged (Blue Rodeo, The Things We Left Behind). In the case of Kathleen Edwards, years of quiet achievement seem to have delivered her to a significant moment: the release of her fourth album, Voyageur. The good news is that Edwards sticks the landing. From the wistful opening track, 'Empty Threat', to the poignant closer, 'For the Record', there is hardly a drop-off in quality. The trick seems to have been that Edwards opened up the writing and recording process, allowing for a greater degree of collaboration than at any point in the past. Evidently this pushed her to a place where, although she is more exposed emotionally, her voice is somehow more confident and convincing. Who helped? First and foremost, Justin Vernon - the Bon Iver frontman co-produced the album with Edwards (the pair are now a couple, too). She credits him for being 'the sounding board for ideas', and the one who pushed the whole process into unfamiliar, exciting territory. His musical contributions are discernible but discreet, as he provides backing vocals, guitar, piano, organ, bass, banjo and xylophone. Other musicians who appear on the album include Norah Jones and Afie Jurvanen. The songwriting duties get a great assist from John Roderick (of The Long Winters); with Edwards, he crafted the third track, 'A Soft Place to Land', which is undeniably a highlight. Simple and stark, the lyrics float elegantly over understated piano, as guitars and drums mount gradually into the mix. Edwards sings, 'I'm looking for a soft place to land / the forest floor, the palms of your hands.' Broadly speaking, the subject matter on Voyageur revolves around heartache, loss, and transformation. Edwards recently endured the break-up of her five-year marriage to musician Colin Cripps, and little filter exists between her feelings and her words. She does not just quarrel with others in the lyrics; more often than not, she battles with herself. This is the source of the most dramatic, poetic moments on the album. Honesty is always the grandest gateway to the hearts of listeners. Listen to 'Pink Champagne', in which Edwards recollects her wedding day, or 'House Full of Empty Rooms', where the singer skillfully offers up an empty dwelling as the mirror image of an exhausted relationship. Absorbing Voyageur can almost feel voyeuristic, like we are combing stealthily through notes in a personal journal, yet the album does not succumb entirely to melancholy. On the first single, 'Change the Sheets', there is liberation and recovery to spare. Edwards is moving forward... Top Tracks: A Soft Place to Land, Change the Sheets, Going to Hell Rating: 4 out of 5 Andrew Gunn Canadian Interviews				Album reviews Feature articles Interviews Show reviews