Album Review: Jen Cloher - In Blood Memory

After four years almost completely out of the public eye, Melbourne's Jen Cloher emerges with her third longplayer – and something has changed. Two successful records in Dead Wood Falls (2006) and Hidden Hands (2009) had Cloher pinned as an immensely talented songwriter with broad appeal who probably should break through to the mainstream but probably wouldn't.

While In Blood Memory is not going to bring her any closer to widespread fame, it shows a bolder, more assured performer mining grimier musical depths than ever before. She injects more swagger on these seven tracks than we've ever heard from her, but at the same time her performance seems slightly less contrived. Cloher sounds a little looser and a little more self-assured; she didn't sound lost before, but she sounds utterly at home now.

It's louder too; Cloher's new band finding inspiration in the likes of Crazy Horse, Television and the presently thriving Melbourne underground. Tasteful flourishes colour Cloher's dour songs; mellotron and handclaps in opener Mount Beauty giving a widescreen scope, bent out of shape pedal steel on Kamikaze Origami giving an uneasy lounge song vibe, while the unabashed album ending is an explosive full stop on the work. Cloher herself seems to channel new influences, with the spirit of Lou Reed, PJ Harvey and Patti Smith stomping all over Aussie folk darlings she's been compared to in the past.

In Blood Memory is unexpectedly daring and ultimately refreshing. Its long songs, distorted guitars and freewheeling spirit might shock older fans, but Jen Cloher has never sounded more comfortable and, as a result, more affecting on record.