Wednesday, June 13, 2007

CAT POWER – HE WAR (MATADOR RECORDS)


CAT POWER – HE WAR (MATADOR RECORDS)

“He War” is one of those songs that has grown in legacy and stature long after its release. I had seen Chan Marshall play live twice before I finally “got” her by which time it was unfortunately too late to really get the full emotional affect from her music.

As I finally persisted with “You Are Free” it was (and has always been) “He War” that was the track that stood out. So it was extra sickening to me one day when I investigated an unopened Matador promo envelope to discover that I had owned/possessed a copy of the single for nearly five years.

It opens with some delicate keys coupled with matching chops before an overriding guitar layers further and a real rev up of an introduction to the song that offers hope in what appears to be the face of adversity.

It almost feels like the guitars are dueling throughout the song as in the distance the quiet piano ticks serve as an entity attempting to intervene. It is however the “hey hey hey” of the chorus that provides most hope, especially pitched against the refrain of “he will kill for you.”

This is a breezy and beautiful song with dark content. Sometimes music attain personal perfection in their craft. On this track Chan Marshall did just that.

Drum parts are provided by Dave Grohl but fortunately you can’t tell.

Thesaurus moment: yearn.

Cat Power
Matador Records

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