Prairie Empire - The Salt

2016 release, the sophomore full-length from Brooklyn's Prairie Empire. The Salt is a moving, unexpected departure from their folky, self-titled debut. In the four years between albums, Brittain Ashford and her band developed a more sophisticated sound, one that expands beyond the four walls of the bedroom into cinematic terrain. Calm moments give way to fevered climaxes, strings and reeds humming as Ashford's mournful, whiskey-soaked alto floats above the chaos. Inspired by the quietude of Elliott Smith and the dynamism of Jeff Buckley, Ashford directs her melancholic vocals through lush, atmospheric arrangements, oscillating between grief and anticipation. Ashford (vocals, guitars, arrangements, etc.) and Nim Ben-Reuven (drums, drawings of cats) met by chance while getting copies made in Manhattan. They became friends and Ben-Reuven joined the Empire. For this record, the duo filled out their sound with Brent Arnold (cello; The Antlers, Reggie Watts, Modest Mouse), Jeff Hudgins (clarinet, sax, bari-sax), Danah Olivetree (cello), Alec Spiegelman (pump organ; Cuddle Magic), Scott Colberg (additional guitar) and Matt Bauer (vox). It's fair to say that Prairie Empire has entered a larger world; The Salt surveys the land around them with power and subtlety.