Album Review: Laura Veirs – Warp and Weft

Portland, Oregon-based singer-songwriter Laura Veirs is perhaps best-known for her melodic and personal songs of romance and adventure. Most recently, she released July Flame in 2010, went on to record a children’s album, and embarked on motherhood, but now she is back with Warp and Weft: an amazing record comprised of well-written tracks that penetrate the soul with her powerful yet nurturing voice.

‘America’ appears second on the album and pays homage to the United States. The lyrics describe it as a place for anyone to seek relief whether they’re a criminal or someone simply looking for a better future. In truth, that is not reality – another person’s paradise can be another person’s hell – but paired with Veirs’ light vocals and calming, catchy guitar riffs, it’s easy to overlook the message of the track.

‘Dorothy of the Island’, meanwhile, is the tale of a young girl with a tough upbringing being raised by her father without her mother who has ran off. They live on a secluded island, which leads their thoughts to overcome their reality. It’s one of Warp and Weft’s more overtly rockist moments, with its powerful clashes of cymbals and guitar chords booming in the chorus.

‘Shape Shifter’ is a superb track. It sees Veirs tells a sweet story of winters to come. With the changing of the weather leads to plenty of huddling indoors and a great time to resolve conflicts. The chorus expresses just that: “Winter’s on the way/Think we are going to make it out?/If we stick together now.” The “shape shifter” mentioned in the track happens to be snowflakes – a clever metaphor to describe the building of relationships, but one that’s only revealed towards the end of the track.

‘White Cherry’ is quite a surprise to hear. It provides a classical example of old swing bands and big bands of the 1950s. Featuring a plethora of saxophones, pianos and an organ, ‘White Cherry’ is bound leave an impression on listeners. Laura Veirs has an incredible talent for dabbling in all sorts of genres and imbuing each with a little piece of her very own magic. All the tracks preceding ‘White Cherry’ could not have predicted Warp and Weft to end this way, but it does; and on a remarkably high note too.

– Jess Edwards