Kozelek's first effort since his 2005 album of Modest Mouse covers (Tiny Cities), April possesses all the Neil Young-on-codeine beauty typical of his now-impressive catalogue, the only difference being the number of alt-rock stars (Ben Gibbard, Eric Pollard, Will Oldham) making barely discernible guest vocal appearances.
It's all here--the lovely acoustic fingerpicking ("Harper Road"), the gritty Zuma-era Crazy Horse chugging ("The Light"), the layers of shimmering electric-guitar arpeggios ("Moorestown") and Kozelek's drowsy yet plaintive tenor, a voice ideally suited for his meditations on family, memory and mortality.
By the time you drift into "Blue Orchids," and Kozelek's fluttering flamenco runs cause your pulse to quicken, it will have been too late: This is powerful music that evokes the heart's rawest moments. Note: Early copies of this album contain a bonus CD with alternate versions of four tracks.
