The Mighty Ship (released September 9 on Thrill Jockey) is quality pop music kissed by the sunshine hiccup of great '70s country-rock, the bright colors of Topanga Canyon and San Francisco wearing a weather beaten cowboy hat and a bittersweet grin. Desveaux breathes wholly together music in a way that recalls Aimee Mann, not so much in form but function, a honeyed organic-ness that makes one slip slide away on her sweet melodies and girlishly winning voice. Able to roll from a controlled swoon ("Joining Another") to I'm With Stupid quality pop ("Shape You") to glowing '60s radio evocations ("Hide From You") and back to a Levon Helm worthy hill country cry ("Mighty Ship"), Desveaux gives each cut presence and beautiful gravity through her gorgeous phrasing, smart instrumental choices and tight arrangements. This album isn't about cracking open new territory so much as tending the garden planted by gifted forebears, raising up new flowers, lovely variants on established themes. There's no less artistry in cultivating hybrids, and Angela Desveaux shows herself a fine horticulturalist on this neatly assembled collection.
Angela Desveaux:the Mighty Ship
By: Dennis Cook
