Devotees of Joanna Newsom are used to the harpist’s baroque, sprawling albums: her masterpiece Have One on Me runs to three CDs.
Her fourth record is more economical and features some of her most direct songs yet – The Things I Say is simply two minutes of piano and Newsom’s quavering voice.
Fans of her arcane pop shouldn’t worry, though. Divers is another labyrinthine listen that’s rich with musical textures (Newsom’s discovered synths) and lyrical puzzles. The jaunty Sapokanikan manages to reference Shelley’s sonnet Ozymandias in the first line.
You don’t need to study the words to appreciate the ornate urgency of Leaving the City, the orchestration and birdsong on Time, As a Symptom or the gentle ache of her harp and swooping vocal on the title track. But close listening to Divers will convince you of Newsom’s genius.
(Drag City)
