Album Review: Catherine Traicos & The Starry Night - The Earth, The Sea, The Moon, The Sky

Returning for her second stint with the The Starry Night following up the acclaimed Gloriosa in 2011, Catherine Traicos brings us another record of breathy vocals accompanied by superbly-timed, intricate instrumental backings in The Earth, The Sea, The Moon, The Sky. Bluegrass, folk, indie, alternative, country – it's become increasingly common to read an extensive list in the genre classification these days – and The Earth, The Sea, The Moon, The Sky is another record that has been consequently dubbed as 'genre-defying'.

The 11-track LP skirts the line between the tested and true, and original, more provocative material for Traicos. There is an absence of real lyrical complexity; however Traicos utilises her vocal gifts to weave gorgeous songs out of simple-yet-purposeful and poignant words.

First single, Light In The Dark, is the unequivocal 'rock' ballad of the record, and the only track that will have you moving faster than a gentle sway. Share Your Heart and Devil's Lover, sprawled with clackers and halted, almost spoken word poetry, may be considered 'jazz'. And whether intended or not, the ultra-wistful Carry Me Away maintains such a pleasant lullaby melody that one can't help but feel heavy-lidded and soothed by Traicos' ethereal voice.

You can almost see Traicos draped in black satin, barely visible on a dimly lit jazz club stage as you listen to parts of this record, and that's quite an accomplishment, however you want to classify it.