2010 release from the New York-based singer/songwriter. Recording once more with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago, Nina engaged Los Angeles instrumentalist and arranger Paul Bryan to adapt her songs into a score for a small orchestra. Featuring drummer Jay Bellerose and Chicago guitarist Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Outlaster is aided by, all in all, a dream band. This album is work of lush sophistication that, with no loss of distinction or economy, transcends the reach of Nastasia's famed sparingly. The orchestra takes a more formal approach with Paul Bryan's powerfully affecting score - hearkening back to the likes of Gil Evans and the late Phil Ochs - burnishing the record with lustrous horns and reeds and a dynamic string ensemble.
W**L
A somber beauty
Nina Nastasia's latest work is a forlornly beautiful collection of ten folkish tunes, usually featuring exquisite acoustic accompaniment from some combination of a string quartet, woodwind quartet, and rhythm trio (guitar-bass-drum). The songs were expertly "recorded" by the legendary Steve Albini in Chicago. With Nina having a somewhat sweeter singing voice than Lisa Germano's, the two artists' styles are still somewhat similar; Ms Germano's music also being more relentlessly gloomy. In any case, I really recommend LG fans check out Nina. Along with the slow-folk, Outlaster also reveals a musical theater aspect on "This Familiar Way". It's a dramatic number that makes very effective use of all three ensembles and the players, especially the woodwinds and violin. Many listeners came to Nina's music via her song "Ugly Face", which was used over the closing credits of the horror flick Carriers. Hopefully they were then brave enough to try more of her songs or even albums. Outlaster is certainly a rewarding listen for those who like folk music with a chamber music twist, and who appreciate melancholy songs for the end of time. I am baffled as to why Amazon has this CD listed in some places as by "Giddy Motors and Nina Nastasia", though. There is no reference to "Giddy Motors" anywhere in the booklet or on the other packaging, nor is the album listed that way on her label's web site (fatcat).
A**R
Phenomenal.
How I loved The Blackened Air. But Outlaster just replaced that as my favorite Nina Nastasia album. It's beautiful, moving, and powerful. It's so good that I don't want anyone else to listen to it because I just want it for myself. Selfish, I know, but I can't help it. I love how Nastasia evolves with each subsequent record, but never, ever diverts from the path--the core is the same, but each record has a theme that exposes another facet of her. Great record. Beautiful work. "Wakes" is orchestrated flawlessly, and it's--I think--the best track on Outlaster.
J**L
Beautiful Gorgeous Packaging & Music
Gorgeous, screen printing on the cover. Electric Audio records the crap out of this album. The drums on tack 2 are perfect. Nina's songwriting is more complex but no less listenable.
M**N
Good songwriting
The songwriting is good from Nina, but the tempo of the songs is often a little too slow and too similar. Instrumentation could have been recorded more forcefully as well.
S**I
Amo Nina Nastasia
Questa cantante poco conosciuta nel nostro paese è una vera poetessa, le sue musiche sono avvolgenti, questo disco poi sembra un percorso trascendentale. Cercate su youtube qualche sua canzone e rendetevi conto, il suo stile è alla PJ Harvey.Ottimo, acquisto consigliato.
Trustpilot
2 days ago
1 day ago
