Album Review: Waxahatchee - Out In The Storm

Katie Crutchfield's strike-rate is something of a marvel.

Exceptionally prolific but remarkably consistent, Crutchfield's songwriting hasn't even faltered throughout the runaway success of her most celebrated and scrutinised project. If anything, Waxahatchee has only grown more ambitious and rewarding with every release. Out In The Storm continues that streak. Easily the project's most polished effort, their fourth album was largely tracked live with Crutchfield's collaborators under the ears of veteran alt-rock soundman John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth) and sounds absolutely beautiful. A remarkable evolution, given the bedroom studio of the project's first effort.

But, in a testament to Crutchfield's unflappable songwriting, Out In The Storm retains the bruising honesty and intimacy of the band's rawer recordings and performances. It's a truly expressive piece of work. Whether awash with distortion and drums in stellar single Silver or floating on a tidal swell of organ in Recite Remorse, it's an album that swings and moves with true feeling. Crutchfield's collaborators (which include sister Allison Crutchfield and Sleater-Kinney's touring guitarist Katie Harkin) are commendably tasteful in their contributions. There's a great, shuddering sense of space to Sparks Fly, but this never overwhelms the song's hook.

In short, it's another high watermark from an artist who probably owes the world a dud.