Collaborations of this sort are a complex, often confounding proposition. The assorted mechanics of established writing careers must be integrated, along with clashing schedules and, often, egos. Then there's the dreaded supergroup tag and the expectation that, somehow, the meeting must amount to something greater than its constituent parts in order to qualify as a success.
A moment into case/lang/veirs’ debut these worries simply wash away. This is an album of rare craft and understated beauty, one that relies on an open spirit rather than grandstanding solo spots. k.d lang, as instigator, is at the heart of the piece, but Laura Veirs and Neko Case also shine throughout. We are presented with the idiosyncrasies of each, alongside the sheen of something exciting and fresh out of the box.
The opening line of its first song, Atomic Number - “I’m not the freckled maid/I’m not the fair-haired girl/I’m not a pail of milk for you to spoil.” - is split perfectly into three, laying the groundwork for a collection that navigates its trio of protagonists without resorting to abrupt shifts in tone or delivery.
Once we’re underway progress is serene, but that doesn’t prevent individual highlights appearing around some sweeping bends.
Case brings a dash of bombast to Delirium, which trades in ringing bells that might also have found a home on a New Pornographers song, while Veirs pays erudite tribute to Judee Sill over rattling alt-country backing on Song for Judee. lang’s performance on Blue Fires, meanwhile, is one to envelop the listener entirely. “Why does the heart of the flame burn blue?” she asks. “Why do January cherries bloom? Why do blue fires burn in me, yet not in you?”
The initial curiosity at the group’s origin story quickly fades, swept clear by a rich, warm batch of songs that reward repeat visits much as a tattered paperback might. ‘case/lang/veirs’ is perhaps destined to be a one off, but its meandering narrative will retain its power over time.
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