Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur That Kathleen Edwards decided to call her fourth album Voyageur is not only a self-conscious nod to her Canadianness, it's also - if you'll forgive the hackneyed sentiment - an acknowledgement that the Wakefield, Que.-bred singer-songwriter is exploring uncharted territory on her latest effort. Even before she released her acclaimed 2003 debut, Failer, Edwards had fallen into the orbit of this country's roots-rock community, where peers and fans embraced her frank delivery and rugged songs. But while her work bled outside the edges of a traditional alt-country template, there was a lingering sense that genre constraints were holding Edwards back from achieving her full potential. Voyageur is the sound of her guard coming down. It's a beautifully constructed album marked by textured, evocative production and stylistic looseness, both of which have opened up Edwards' singing and songwriting. There's a neat play with language here: Her metaphors are grounded in vignettes ("Change the Sheets," a "House Full of Empty Rooms") that suggest the real-life circumstances around the album - namely, the crumbling of one romantic relationship and the foundation of another. Even more notable, though, is the shift in Edwards' vocal delivery. On the placid, rueful "Pink Champagne," her voice curls like vapour trails around a halo of hazy guitars; on "Going to Hell," she channels Neil Young with precise cries that hang off the ends of lines like icicles while a maelstrom of muted guitar swirls in the bottom of the mix. Bon Iver's Justin Vernon (Edwards' current sweetheart), who co-produced and contributed to the album, has inspired her to create something remarkable. On some level, their creative partnership is reminiscent of the dynamic duo of Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris; with its layered guitars, echoing backing vocals and haunting effects, Voyageur is Edwards' Wrecking Ball. Playlist Picks: "Chameleon/Comedian," "A Soft Place to Land," "Going to Hell" Rating: 8 out of 10 Sarah Liss The Grid				Album reviews Feature articles Interviews Show reviews