Advertisement

In Rotation: Elizabeth Mitchell & You Are My Flower’s gentle ‘Blue Clouds’

Share

Elizabeth Mitchell & You Are My Flower

“Blue Clouds”

(Smithsonian Folkways)

Elizabeth Mitchell is known to fans of small-batch indie rock as a member of the great New York City band Ida, which last released an album in 2008. Since then, Mitchell has spent more of her time making music for children with her husband (who also plays in Ida) and her young daughter. The singer’s latest album merges the halves of that artistic identity: It complements traditional kiddie fare such as “Hop Up, My Ladies” and “Froggie Went a-Courtin’” with versions of tunes by rockers, including Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison. Be assured that Mitchell excises several minutes’ worth of guitar soloing from the Allman Brothers Band’s “Blue Sky.”

As that judicious edit demonstrates, part of what makes “Blue Clouds” work is that Mitchell and co-producer Warren Defever (of the shape-shifting art-rock outfit His Name Is Alive) restrict the album’s sound to a delicate chamber-folk murmur; David Bowie’s “Kooks,” for instance, seems here about as pint-sized as Mitchell’s listeners. The result is that valued record-industry commodity: children’s music that adults — or at least parents — can enjoy. More important, though, it serves as a gentle corrective to kid culture’s ongoing sensory assault.

ALSO:

Advertisement

‘Music for Sleeping Children’ turns teen angst into song

Review: Rihanna’s ‘Unapologetic’ shines light on past troubles

Lianne La Havas on genre identity and confidence as a songwriter

Advertisement