Cat Power – Wanderer

Finding harmony within yourself

Cat Power is a folk-punk goddess–her edgy demeanor and soft-toned vocals are uniquely influential. Cat Power’s tenth studio album Wanderer was released October 5th, and it is transcendent, to say the least.

Listening to Wanderer feels like looking into a mirror and seeing your true self in the reflection. For some indescribable reason, Wanderer overcomes the limits of music as a virtual media and becomes a physical listening experience. The first track “Wanderer” introduces the album with a melodic church hymn, serenity dripping through acapella folk vocals. Power’s creative process allows her to escape like a vagabond, wandering into her own consciousness to reflect on her experiences. Little stands between Power and her listeners, as her voice flows between guitar riffs and harmonic piano.

“In Your Face” is an instant classic, as bongos define the smooth beat while minimalist piano shapes the musical progression of the song. Power’s voice is ambiguously beautiful–she draws out her words into long syllables, unforgivingly allowing her emotional disposition to seep into the lyrics.

Cat Power is honest and raw in “Woman” as she wastes no time with lyrical ambiguity: “Your cage is like a weapon / A tool to get me.” As synth-like piano accents the vocals, Power’s creative confidence shines through in her own emotionally healing lyrics. Featured artist Lana Del Rey echoes the vocals, singing in solidarity with Power as they harmonically chant “I am a woman” with a proud desperation to be heard.

It is rare to come across a song and feel absolutely helpless in describing the importance of its beauty and meaning. “Horizon” is crafted in a way that lets tears fall down your cheeks with nowhere else to go. Power’s mellow voice is layered with auto-tuned backup vocals, adding another dimension of inexplicable beauty similar to Bon Iver’s 22, A Million. “Horizon” is a heartfelt, artistic masterpiece with solemn guitar and vocalized intentions about familial connection. Seamlessly placing all other songs into context, “Horizon” holds the album together like an emotional keystone.

With a breathless tone of voice, Cat Power sings with anecdotal vulnerability in “Black.” Vocals are layered over each other, like a chorus of singing angels. Power tweaks her voice with artistic intention, adding depth to a simple guitar strum and a slow-dance tempo that calls for swaying in solitude. With instrumental pauses, she converses with us, exposing heartache and the feeling of being neglected.

A tambourine sets the rhythm in “Robin Hood” to accompany Power’s haunting lyrics: “Don’t be caught after eight you know why.” The duality of comfort and unease courses through Wanderer–seeking pride as a woman while struggling with a sense of security in the female identity. Power’s voice is clear and straightforward, identifying with her listeners on an intimate level. “Nothing Really Matters” and “Me Voy” both have a beautifully cynical mood–caught in the feeling of losing something or someone that never really existed. Simplicity transforms into harmonic intricacy as the songs build into formative farewell hymns, lingering with a reluctance to let go.

Cat Power’s creative sound seems to evolve with every solo album she writes and produces, with stand-alone lyrics that speak without needing background instrumentals. Riddled with raw emotion and conversational lyrics, this album begs to be heard. Cat Power undoubtedly has an influential voice, and there is not enough artistic vocabulary to describe the beauty of freedom that she captures in Wanderer.