Shades vinyl

Poet, vocalist and multi-instrumental virtuoso, in many ways it's remarkable "Shades" is Vera Sola's debut album. Then you remember that, before all this, she made a name for herself as a stage and voice actor, not to mention a member of Elvis Perkins' band. Influences that can be felt on this emotionally complex but often-musically sparse solo offering. The dark, disparate arrangements on "Circles" and "Loving, Loving" wouldn't sound out of place on a David Lynch soundtrack. "By Mothlight" captures the mood of a late night bar discovered during some epic road trip. "The Cage" is pure drama on record. Deftly combining Americana, experimental rock and some twisted, dejected sibling of country, hers is a world that's tormented, wracked with inner turmoil and wholly original. Throw in the fact she's responsible for every sound in earshot- breaking glass, handmade percussion, rattling chains- and the only phrase that fits is tour de force.