free music friday: linda draper

Wears The Trousers has been quietly admiring the unassuming beauty of Linda Draper’s music for some years now – so much so that we got her to contribute a cover of ‘Sail Away Ladies’ to our upcoming Odetta tribute compilation – and her latest record Bridge & Tunnel, released back in mid-April, has only strengthened our love for her charming songcraft. Blessed with a lightness of touch and a touching vulnerability, Linda’s songs are the type to ambush you unawares, gradually, dancing across your auditory cortices in soft ballet shoes until you pay them full attention. Bridge & Tunnel’s sympathetic production by Martha Wainwright’s husband Brad Albetta brings out the warmth in Linda’s writing, while drummer Anders Griffen (Regina Spektor, Diane Cluck, Kimya Dawson) and bassist Rob Woodcock provide a tasteful, cushiony rhythm section that doesn’t overpower the songs.

‘Sharks & Royalty’ is one of the album’s most naked moments, with very subtle upright bass and Wurlitzer providing a bed for Linda’s sweetly imploring vocals and fingerpicked guitar. Lyrically it’s a pragmatist’s plea to a loved one who is plagued by doubts, reassuring in its directness and acceptance of fate. ”Sometimes things are just how they seem / among the rotten ones we’ll run free / there must be room for you and me,” sings Linda, and the world is put to rights. One for the overthinkers.

FREE MP3: Linda Draper, ‘Sharks & Royalty’

visit Linda on Myspace

Written by: Alan Pedder

Tags: linda draper

This entry was posted on Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 9:03 am and is filed under All A/V, free music friday. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.