On the Record 11: In The Air - Anna St. Louis
Float with this delightful cosmic pop-country release from an artist to watch.
Rating: 9/10
Genre: Country / Pop / Folk / Indie
Length: 42m 08s
Release Date: June 9, 2023
Label: Woodist - Mare
Streaming quality: 96kHz / 24-bit
First impressions
What is it about some tunes that makes one say (sometimes out loud), "Oh, who is this?" I expected Anna St. Louis to be a veritable sensation on Spotify after hearing her single "Phone" for the first time on an internet algorithm radio. The song made me queue her album In The Air, and I was immediately at home with the blend of pop, folk and country in this modern "cosmic country" album. I was genuinely shocked to see St. Louis' listener count was (at the time of writing) shy of 25k monthly listeners. Sometimes song radios and playlists drive traffic to one song on a record, while the rest of the tunes fall flat. I am delighted that Anna St. Louis defied expectations and In The Air became my sleeper hit for the summer.
On the Record
In The Air hails from quintessential older American styles. Anna St. Louis' composition and songwriting drive an earnest sound - something that is recognizable, lilty, and homey without being a cheesy reproduction of its predecessors. I love the open, airy, nostalgia she has captured in these songs; the entire record is so delicate. Usually just one acoustic guitar, the strumming is reminiscent of a quiet, lone guitar from The Eagles or America. The pedal steel guitar adds a sophisticated voice without treading heavily on the space or Anna St. Louis' gentle vocals. Finally, the electric pianos provide bounce and joy with an early 70s studio character. Every time I play this record, I finally know what it is to be a cinematic young tumbleweed floating through the American Midwest soundtracked by a scratchy vinyl record.
Sound Impressions
I appreciate albums with strong track ordering. In particular, the selection of the first song is paramount to setting the intention and tone of an album. "Trace" does this perfectly. Inquisitive and reflective, the first seconds of the song are the sunrise to a day full of feelings. Rhythmically, the drums set the song in motion by conjuring visions of the American plains and the slow cadence of a steady horse.
The opening lap steel guitar in "Better Days" is my kryptonite. The song's intro is not ornate, but the way the acoustic guitar frames the harmonic movement of the lap steel delights me. I appreciate the simplicity of the chorus, which is just a refrain of the lyrics "I'll wait for better days," because of the texture added by the vocal harmonies and guitar arrangements.
The songs "Rest" and "Phone" work as a pair. The breathy synth line that opens "Rest" evokes a modern take on a nostalgic sound. Similarly, "Phone" opens with a rich, warbly synth line and builds suspense until the line "Baby, baby on the phone..." is delivered in near silence. This track is far brighter and more uplifting than the preceding songs. "Phone" is the playful, fun peak of the record. It is a light that shines amongst more melancholic songwriting, like the tune "Even" that follows.
Counting in lightly, "Even" is lonesome with a slow, swinging feel. Enigmatic of older country music, I expect a raspy drawl and heavy male voice on this kind of song. However, a hallmark in Anna St. Louis' music is the weightless, youthful, kind delivery, which is a delightful departure from the expected, pervasive country/folk twang.
In "Patrollers", the electric piano adds a perfectly positioned texture. Very quiet for much of the song, it's panned hard to the left channel and offers some passing harmony that contrasts the electric guitar that's louder and panned hard to the right channel. If I don't pay close attention, they blend smoothly into a sonic foundation for the song. [Sidenote about channels - generally speaking, modern music has one channel for the left speaker/earbud/headphone and one channel for the right. This takes advantage of your brain's ability to locate sounds around you. With headphones or earbuds, it becomes more obvious (and sometimes unenjoyable) when sounds are emitted from solely one channel. The phenomenon is less obvious with speakers, as both ears will hear the sound despite its origination from one point in space. The adjustment from left-to-right in a stereo (or two-channel) mix is called "panning," and it allows a recording to be located between the two speakers.]
"Soft Cities" is where St. Louis delivers the "cosmic" part of cosmic country. The tune opens with simple finger-picked acoustic guitar and vocals, but the vocal harmonies and electric piano+synth add a pop-music flavor and elevate the track to more than just a singer-songwriter tune.
Final Thoughts
Blending pop and folk stylistic influence, St. Louis delivers a mature, delicate record. There is a sophisticated simplicity permeating the songwriting and compositions that is stuck in my mind. I return to this release repeatedly and every listen sounds fresh. I am drawn to music that puts a modern flare on tunes that would otherwise belong in a bygone era. In The Air delivers this with a familiar and cozy, yet distinct, voice.
I give this record a 9/10 because it would benefit from swapping one sad tune for a brighter one. Otherwise, I love the production and mix. It's easy to enjoy at home on speakers, in the car, and with headphones. There's a home for this album in my library as a compliment to Kacey Musgraves and a contrast to Charley Crockett. I'm looking forward to spinning this release as the colors turn and the cold air moves into the Northeast this fall.
On my radar
Here are some things I'm checking out lately.
The newest Local Natives album is so infectious! We’ve had it on repeat and were treated to another show at 930 Club in DC a few weeks back. I’ll never forget hearing the song “Ceilings” the first time almost 10 years ago, so hearing it live was a fun full circle. Here’s my favorite off their new record.
The soul group Monophonics is passing through DC next week at the Black Cat and I’m hoping to make it to that show. I missed my chance to see them last fall with Kendra Morris, so fingers crossed I can make it up.