Cat Power – Sun

The past six years have been tough for Charlyn Marie Marshall, aka Cat Power. After being bankrupt, hospitalised because of alcohol and mental health difficulties, and breaking up with her actor-boyfriend Giovanni Ribisi, one can only praise her comeback with this fabulous record, Sun. It’s been six years since she released an original record and by listening to it, one can only see that all the turmoil has done her some good. She has come back as a fantastically rejuvenated artist.

Sun opens with Cherokee – the sound of rebirth itself. Emotive, grown up and serious, the lyrics alone allow us to realise that this is going to be a thoroughly absorbing record: “Never knew love like this… never knew pain like this… bury me, marry me to the sky”. Along with lush production – courtesy of her solely, having ditched her previous backing band – the whole album is a symbolic statement of liberation and re-emergence. The title track, Sun, with its addictive distorted strumming and electronic basis, is dark (like the Cat Power we know) yet incredibly addictive.

Talking of addiction, something that undoubtedly inspired the creation of the record, the free download of her first single Ruin, back in June, shows that she is so capable of producing songs that are catchy, upbeat and never lacking in freshness. After the umpteenth listen, it still calls you back – a thoroughly beautiful and well-written track.

On Peace and Love Power closes the record with apt lyrics that define her as an independent, important and far superior artist than the one we have seen on her previous albums: “A hundred thousand hits on the internet but that don’t mean shit… I want to feel honey now, like I got money now… I’m a lover but I’m in it to win.” Yes, Cat Power, we can feel the power.

Matt Di Salvo

Sun is released on 3^rd September 2012 by Matador Records. For further information or to order the album visit Cat Power’s website.

Watch the video for Ruin here: