Having formerly played behind the drums with members of Band of Horses in the defunct sad-eyed Seattle outfit Carissa’s Wierd, Sera Cahoone is an accomplished guitarist and songwriter. Cahoone’s own sophomore full-length, Only as the Day Is Long, could easily have wafted into the realm of wispy noncommittal Cat Power soundalikes itself if not for the reassuring presence of certain rustic-signifying instrumentation and arrangements.

Only as the Day is Long, is a gorgeous and haunting country and folk inflected tone, a breathtaking collection of sad and dusky songs that reveal an artist of remarkable depth as well as a truly stunning voice which can be compared to Gillian Welch with its aching emotions and melancholy mood.

Cahoone enacts this push-and-pull from the opening track, “You Might as Well”, girding gently clomping drums and a folky guitar figure against her lambent, echoing vocals, the song’s subtle country underpinnings turning it into something hypnotic as opposed to hazily undefined. Its successor, “Baker Lake”, nicely introduces the banjo and pedal steel that will likewise help anchor Cahoone for much of the remainder of the album, the latter instrument superlatively decorating “Runnin’ Your Way” and “Tryin’” in particular. A couple of times (”Happy When I’m Gone”, the title track) Cahoone’s assembled players even rustle up a knotty acoustic groove near-worthy of Iron and Wine’s last record.

Musically, it is an accomplishment, Cahoone’s new album is dark and quiet and brooding, mesmerizingly dark work of Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter. This has led to a classification by the name of “country-noir”, an appropriate coinage that represents both the bleakness and instrumental despair of her music.. This record is a big improvement from the first record in that regard, it is clear she is taking the long view, trying to improve some with each step. Considering that this is her first release on a major label in her young but promising solo career, one can only assume that this will be the album that launches her name into a state of respectability. Whether it reaches a large audience or not though, there is no denying the sheer quality of it.

Only as the Day Is Long
Sera Cahoone
Original Release Date: March 18, 2008
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Sub Pop
Buy Album: Click Here

“Couch Song” - Music Video

“Running Your Way” - Live