She already has an impressive oeuvre to her name, but Danish artist Kira Skov is hardly a household name. The question is whether Spirit Tree, with its impressive guest list, will change all that. Skov moves in the territory of somber singer-songwriters like
Nick Cave,
Tindersticks,
Leonard Cohen and
Mark Lanegan. The latter is a guest on Spirit Tree, alongside the likes of Will Oldham, Bill Callahan
… and John Parish (who previously produced her album The Echo Of You). But Spirit Tree seems above all to be a tribute to Leonard Cohen, with many slow waltzes full of sombre reflections of love and an exalted dark singing Skov. It deserves the attention of fans of Cave, Lanagan, etc., but otherwise manages to rise little above it. (MR)more
