Feist’s pared-back new album isn’t one of those ladylike confessionals that too many female singer-songwriters put out. Combining the creak, hiss and slamming doors of near-DIY recording with the unexpected rattle of early PJ Harvey (on standout tracks like Pleasure), the Canadian artist spends 11 songs examining her recent past, sidestepping easy cliches. That’s not to say that the album isn’t accessible – I Wish I Didn’t Miss You packs a chorus and a very relatable sense of vulnerable frustration – but these songs about maturity and internal toughness often move in mysterious ways, leaving plenty of space for Feist’s probing guitar work and an atmosphere that really breathes. Any Party stands out in this company, meanwhile, for having a Dylan-ish bent and the shock of musical flesh on its bones.
