For all of the attention that shoegaze and indie sleaze have received recently in terms of comebacks and revivals, I think people are sleeping on the influence of country. Maybe it’s because we all correctly lambast radio-centric bro-country. Or maybe it’s because we conflate folk and country a bit too readily. And maybe it’s because using the blanket term “singer-songwriter” is easier than engaging in actual genre analysis. Whatever the reason, we should not overlook the impact of this iconic musical tradition.
Especially when musicians like Ora Cogan can elevate it to grand heights.
Throughout her newest album, Hard Hearted Woman, Cogan dips her innovative hands into several artistic jars. Released on Sacred Bones, this ten-track record evinces keen elements of modern folk, indie, psych, and even some kraut rock. Her aching vocals flit between mezzo-soprano and high alto with practiced ease, as she creates welcoming moods that are both naturalistic and intimate. But the entire effect becomes truly lived-in when her fresh take on ‘70s country enters the mix.
Now, I’m not talking about the raucous and ribald strains of outlaw country. And we’re certainly not referring to pop-forward countrypolitan sensibilities. Instead, Cogan fuses Emmylou Harris and Joni Mitchell with Stardust-era Willie Nelson to craft songs overflowing with reverence and romanticism. However, she avoids obvious tropes by layering on heaps of Pacific Northwest psych vibes that provide some spiritual sensations. This utterly intoxicating project feels like a campfire song cycle featuring Neko Case, Kate Bush, and Sturgill Simpson.
Ora Cogan assembled some of her best friends to bring her songs to life.
I am agog at the pristine musicianship on display. The exquisite band chemistry exudes both a quiet confidence and subtle strength. Yes, her aforementioned voice provides an essential focal point, but it’s counterbalanced by minor key arrangements that alternately shimmer and simmer. The electric guitar work pulses with ghostly fills and lead lines, while the bass licks vibrate with a liquid tone. Banks of organs, synths, and pianos convey an eerie energy, while spectral strings and layered percussion fill out the nooks and crannies. However, hushed drumming holds everything together with taut timing that never feels overplayed or demanding.
Her profound gratitude for country extends to her lyrics. “Honey” opens the album with this killer line: “Love is stronger than hate / Love is alive / Don’t just take back the night / Set it on fire.” She then flips the tenor of that sentiment on “The Smoke” – “And we’re teaching our shadows / To dance on the wall / While we’re living in fear / Of doing anything at all.” On “Love You Better,” she pleads with an obstinate lover: “You’d never move without a cause / Without meaning or risk / You wouldn’t compromise for love / So where the hell would I fit in?” As the album’s penultimate track, “Outgrowing” finds our protagonist almost ready to give up, singing, “You scattered all your shadows / Now we cannot leave / We’re tethered to your grounds / Locked into your dream.”
Hard Hearted Woman is a glorious musical creation that projects a dreamy yet tangible atmosphere.
Ora Cogan has a stunning appreciation for dynamics and temperament. While country music remains the dominant metaphor, her songs glide effortlessly between genre rules. This album forced me to sit still and do nothing else for long stretches so that I could wrap my mind around the full scope of her skills. Her inclusive approach to songwriting shows respect for her forebears and offers an artistic cohesion that is friendly and appealing. If this is your first contact with her work, then you owe it to yourself to dive deeply into her extensive back catalog.