Album review: Norah Jones - The Fall

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 13:56

NORAH JONES

The Fall

****

Parlophone 6992862, 12.72

Jones has made her best album to date, working with Kings of Leon and Tom Waits producer Jacquire King to create a record big on atmospherics and easy on the slick, smooth arrangements. After her laid-back, multi-million-selling jazz stylings had the critics sneering "S'Norah" Jones, this should serve as a rude wake-up call.

Opener and lead single Chasing Pirates is a misdirection, its springy Wurlitzer rhythm both playful and mischievous, betraying little of what is to follow, like the hypnotic Even Though, throbbing with bleeps beamed down from a stoner episode of The Clangers, hooked to a strangled reggae bass line and lovely muffled percussion.

It is all about the space between notes and guitarist Marc Ribot. His inventive playing infuses every tune, be it the deep chug powering Jones' pining siren on Waiting, or playing off the marrow-chilling string reverberating in Light As A Feather.

The voodoo groove of It's Gonna Be has more sonic riches to spare, fired up by an earthy electronic piano, guitars growling somewhere off stage left.

Download this: It's Gonna Be, Young Blood, Stuck

This article was first published in Scotland on Sunday on 15/11/09