 NYC band Ida have built a small but loyal following since their formation over 15 years ago. Their brand of hushed indiepop even found them signed to Capitol Records at one point. They also have been championed by members of Jimmy Eat World, Promise Ring and Death Cab For Cutie throughout the years. Lovers Prayers is the band's seventh full length and was recorded in Woodstock, NY at Levon Helm's (ex-drummer/vocalist of The Band) home studio. The rustic setting definitely serves this serene material well. Choosing Warn Defever (Low, His Name Is Alive) as producer is also a winning move by the band as his unfussy approach gives these songs more than enough room to float in the mix. New drummer and multi-instrumentalist Ruth Keating and violinist Jean Cook's contributions sit well throughout the album and much credit must be given to Defever's lush production.
Ida's music has been described over the years as "autumnal" and one critic even went on to call them "chamber folk" and the songs found on Lovers Prayers definitely stay true to this tradition. These kinds of songs aren't meant to grab your attention too quickly. "The Love Below" and "Kora" never raise their voice much higher than a whisper. These songs, and the entire collection really, are far more meditative in their presentation. They demand repeated listens but they reveal and reward you with many rich and melodic nuances in time. Ida even inject some twang into "See The Stars" and this shading of Americana works better than one would expect. The song also saves the album from getting too bogged down in its own preciousness. It will be interesting to see if they venture into this stylistic territory again on future recordings.
Review by Carlos Ramirez
|
| | | | Overall Rating | | 7 | | Vocals / Lyrics | n/a | | Musicianship | n/a | | Production | n/a | | Creativity | n/a | | Lastability | n/a | | Reviewers Tilt | n/a |
70% | |
| |
| 
Ida - Lovers Prayers
In Mogadishu, prayers amid lull in violence
(AP)