Soko
Album: I Thought I Was An Alien
Label: Because Music
Tracks: 15
Website: www.sokomusic.com

It's nearly four years since the French anti-folkie Soko announced herself, garnering largely positive reviews for a set of songs that spoke about cats and peanut butter on which she accompanied herself with backing tracks made on GarageBand or an acoustic guitar she could barely play.

The time was right, but the mood was not and she quit music after various attempts at recording an album, proclaiming "Soko is dead."

Not so. Rising like Lazarus - or a good cake - that Soko walks among us once more is largely due to the intervention of former Elliott Smith producer Fritz Michaud who has captured these fragile, delicate songs like so many soap bubbles on the point of bursting. Daniel Johnston is an obvious reference and on songs like We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow, Why Don't You Eat Me Now You Can and No More Home No More Love she does little to distance herself from it.

However, the dreamy, creamy title track reveals more depth - like Nico with the Velvets - and is probably best approached with its accompanying iPhone video that Spike Jonze helped out with. First Love Never Die has a lovely American indie lilt that belies the searing frankness of its lyrics that are sure to soundtrack any number of teenage bedroom crises. If attaining the age of suffrage is but a distant memory for you it's unlikely you'll feel this record is speaking directly to you, but that shouldn't preclude your appreciation of its frailty.

Nick Churchill
www.thegranvillechambers.co.uk