Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

by Neko Case

Overview

Neko Case hasn't had much need to prove her credentials as a major artist since making her solo debut with 1997's The Virginian, but she's been refining her skills in the recording studio on each subsequent release, and with 2006's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood she's fashioned an album that can cautiously be called a masterpiece. As always, Case's voice, an instrument of impressive strength, grace, and expressive power, is the star of this show, and she's never sounded better than she does here, but what sets this apart from her other fine work is her growth as a songwriter and producer. Case wrote or co-wrote all 12 tracks on Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, and her tales of failed friendship, faith stretched to the breaking point, and love that causes as much ache as comfort are subtle and expressionistic but deeply evocative, conjuring images and feelings that linger long after the album has ended, especially the spectral "Star Witness," the moody yet romantic "That Teenage Feeling" and "Hold on, Hold On," and the darkly beautiful closer, "The Needle Has Landed." And Case and her co-producer, Darryl Neudorf, have assembled a superb cast of musicians to accompany these songs, among them members of the Sadies and Calexico as well as Garth Hudson of the Band, Howe Gelb from Giant Sand, and Kelly Hogan. Together they've sculpted a dozen elegant sonic landscapes that are beautiful and richly detailed while meshing with the moody textures of the songs in their open space and unwillingness to crowd either the singer or the other players. The cumulative effect mirrors both the beauty and the sadness that lurks within the human heart, and Fox Confessor Brings the Flood is a rich, mature, and deeply satisfying piece of music that deserves and demands attention -- if this isn't Album of the Year material, it's hard to say what is. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	03/07/2006
Label:	ANTI
UPC:	0045778677726

Tracks

1. Margaret vs. Pauline
2. Star Witness
3. Hold on, Hold On
4. That Teenage Feeling
5. A Widow's Toast
6. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
7. John Saw That Number
8. Dirty Knife
9. Lion's Jaws
10. Maybe Sparrow
11. At Last
12. The Needle Has Landed

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Neko Case   Primary Artist,Dulcimer,Tambourine,Lead Vocals,Tambo Drums,6-String Bass,Hammer Dulcimer,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar (Electric Tenor)
Willie B   Drums
Tom V. Ray   Guitar (Bass),Bass (Upright)
Paul Rigby   Guitar (12 String),Loops,Guitar,Guitar Loops,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String Electric)
Joey Burns   Guitar (Nylon String),Cello,Bowed Bass,Double Bass,Bass (Upright),Guitar (Acoustic)
Travis   Guitar (Electric)
Jon Rauhouse   Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar,Banjo,Hawaiian Guitar
The Sadies   Guest Artist
Garth Hudson   Guest Artist,Organ,Piano
Tom Ray   Bass,Double Bass,Bass (Upright)
Rachel Flotard   Vocals (Background)
Travis Good   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Kelly Hogan   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
John Convertino   Drums
Sean Dean   Double Bass,Bass (Upright)
Dexter Romweber   Guitar (Electric)
Howe Gelb   Piano,Guitar (Electric)
Anne de Wolff   Violin
Mike Belitsky   Drums
Dallas Good   Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Guitar (12 String Electric)
Brian Connelly   Guitar (Electric)
Anna DeWolf   Violin

Technical Credits

Darryl Neudorf   Audio Production,Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Neko Case   Audio Production,Composer,Producer,Mixing,Artwork,Arranger,Assembly
Travis Good   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Ellie Greenwich   Composer
Sean Dean   Composer
Tom V. Ray   Composer
Paul Rigby   Arranger,Composer
Steve Chahley   Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Randy "Tex" Iwata   Assembly
Sean Gugula   Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Julie Morstad   Drawing,Cover Design
Mike Belitsky   Composer
The Sadies   Composer
Dallas Good   Composer
Chris Schultz   Assistant Engineer
Buffy Sainte-Marie   Composer
Jeff Barry   Composer