Anais Mitchell
Album: Young Man In America
Label: Wilderland
Tracks: 11
Website: http://anaismitchell.com/

By my reckoning 'Young Man in America' is Anais Mitchell's third album (I don't count 2010's 'Hadestown' as it the recording of her folk opera and, therefore, so much more than just an album) and it seems that it has taken an absolute age to release.

From the scratchy fiddle that opens 'Wilderland' through to the lapping waves of the albums closing track 'Ships' via the purity of 'Coming Down' and heartache of 'Shepherd' this is an album of contrasts. There is childlike qualities of Mitchell's voice with the maturity of the songs; the simplicity of the songs with the complexity of the arrangements; folky acoustics provided by banjo, mandolin and fiddle with the, at times, harshness of electric guitars and bass.

These contrasts make for an album that no matter how many times you listen to it you are continually discovering something new, changing like a kaleidoscope with every turn. At heart 'Young Man In America' is still, essentially, a folk album by an essential folk singer but it also defies being categorised in such a simplistic and restrictive way.

Compelling, beguiling, beautiful; 'Young Man In America' is Mitchell's finest work to date.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes