Madeleine Peyroux ★★★★
Let’s Walk
THIRTY TIGERS. CD/DL/LP
The self-effacing singer-songwriter’s first album in six years.
She found success 20 years ago recording wistful covers of Cohen and Dylan – with the spirit of Billie Holiday always nearby. The story of Peyroux’s career since has been her growth as a writer of originals inspired by rootsy Americana of every stripe. The 10 tracks here were co-composed with regular collaborator Jon Herington, AKA Steely Dan’s current guitarist. A haunting meditation on the state of America in the age of Trumpery (How I Wish) is the highlight, preceding the title track’s rousing gospel call to civil rights action. In contrast, she also documents the intimate and personal (Nothing Personal). The mix of jazz, folk, gospel and blues, the languorous slur of her voice, the woody instrumental textures and unhurried pace are all familiar. But there’s novelty, too – a jokey Caribbean-tinged tirade against the mosquito, plus some closing spoken-word advice on eating right and living right (which Peyroux acolytes probably already follow).