You Follow Me

Nina Nastasia & Jim White- You Follow Me

From the opening song on You Follow Me, "I've Been Out Walking," which has Nastasia gasping for breath to narrate a story, it's immediately obvious that you're in the hands of a great songwriter. With this, Nastasia's fifth album, she's already established an impressive track record of high quality.

While I loved Dogs, The Blackened Air and liked Run to Ruin, part of the charm of Nastasia's last LP, On Leaving, and this album, is the space allowed for the songs to breathe. Her voice and guitar are captured perfectly, and Jim White's drums are loud/present, the only three instruments heard on the record. Of course I would expect no less from someone like Steve Albini, but recording-wise, these sparse, tight arrangements fit her aesthetic the best.

Jim White, similar to a free form jazz drummer (thought I really do hate most jazz) in that he doesn't follow the rhythm as much as create his own style to fit the mood of Nastasia's songs, is incredible on the album, as well as in his main band, The Dirty Three.

Seeing Nastasia live last year, I was struck by the power of the song "Late Night," which is included here, with just as much as passion as that performance. Also good are "Our Discussion," "How Will You Love Me" and the last track, "I Come After You." Nastasia's songs are direct, immediate and affecting--you couldn't really ask for more.