Kairos stands as the third release since singer/songwriter Casey Dienel ditched her own name for the White Hinterland moniker, and the full-length album finds her in fine form. Convivial, confidant, contemplative: Kairos is an intimate collection of songs that transports the listener to the jazztronica ambience of a small nightclub bathed in twilight, the perfect sort of place to enjoy the soft, nocturnal beauty of the album. Although Ms. Dienel received a classical training, her compositions don’t feel weighed down by theory. The majority of tracks have a spare, beat-centric design that brilliantly sets off her willowy, improvisational vocals.
Opener "Icarus" and "Bow & Arrow" showcase everything that is great about Kairos. The former repeats a loon-like vocal warble throughout the song, a siren’s motif that supports Ms. Dienel’s unfolding, evocative lyrical imagery. A simple beat, a piano key here or there, and some light whirring are all that is required to compel. "Bow & Arrow" digs a little deeper into the jazztronica. A ‘pinball machine’ sample percolates in the background while Ms. Dienel teases out an observational narrative about "one of those better left to themselves" before building into the delicious refrain "I never know what might set you off". The refrain bounces back and forth over the sparest production (it’s very nearly a cappella) with her layered vocals playing the parts of both the chorus and diva. Some of the industrial textures will remind you of your favorite Suzanne Vega number, though you surely never heard a jazzy vocal run on "99.9 F".
When Kairos falters, it’s usually because Ms. Dienel strays from the clean compositional structures that let her best qualities shine. An overly busy track like "Moon Jam", with its erratic beats jutting into the song at queer angles, could use a little more time in the oven. On the other hand, the more bare bones compositions sometimes expose Ms. Dienel, pushing her vocals too far outside of their comfort zone. Although her delivery has some exciting, ambitious jazzy R&B qualities, Ms. Dienel is no Alicia Keyes. She is too good a singer/songwriter to sink an entire song through overextending herself in this manner, but there are vocal runs here and there you would rather forget.
If jazztronica takes off in 2010, White Hinterland is the perfect example of how it can be done right. Smooth delivery, an exciting improvisational air, and a chill out, beat-driven ambiance make Kairos grab your attention at first blush. It’s the lush vocals and storytelling of Ms. Dienel, however, that will hold your interest and keep you coming back to the album to find out what more secrets may be divined in the sweet exhalations of her moonlit nights.
