Evoking the mythical, utopic Camelot of Early Middle Ages Britain, Jennifer Castle’s seventh album contemplates dichotomies: between faith and skepticism, fear and contentedness, aloneness and connectedness, the body and the heavens, and the self and others.
Castle’s music has always radiated an elemental magic rooted in quietly ornate arrangements, but on Camelot, she appears in full-band splendour. Backed by Carl Didur (piano, keys), Evan Cartwright (drums, percussion), Mike Smith (bass), Victoria Cheong and Isla Craig (vocals), Paul Mortimer (guitar), and Owen Pallett (string arrangements), the album features some of Castle’s greatest extremes..
On one hand, Castle’s usual acoustic guitar-and-voice minimalism lives in “Some Friends.” “Full Moon in Leo,” however, boasts more pomp than any other song she’s written with its squelching, psychedelic guitars. Meanwhile, the piano-led ballad “Blowing Kisses” ranks among her most sweeping compositions.
Despite Castle’s concerns and contemplations, she grounds herself on “Earthsong,” a sparse solo performance on which she honours her inner child. Here, she maintains her wonder and openness to the universe and all its possibilities. As she concludes on “Lucky #8,” featuring Cass McCombs on slide guitar and album co-producer Jeff McMurrich on rhythm guitar, there are no simple, linear answers; life’s possibilities are endless and complex. As Castle continues to chase revelations, her enrapturing music continues to flow.