Confessional chanteuse Katie Crutchfield, aka Waxahatchee, is a National Public Radio darling in the States. Last year’s debut, American Weekend, featured a song called Be Good, which was included in NPR’s top 100 songs of the year.
Crutchfield ploughs a similar territory to Juliana Hatfield and Liz Phair in her forensic treatment of relationships, her songs tinged with anxious loneliness. The difference is she’s far more lo-fi. Backing for her second album is provided by her boyfriend and her sister’s boyfriend, making it a family affair of sorts.
It takes a while for its nuances to sink in – on first listen, one could dismiss this as unremarkable college rock – but they deserve credit for crafting a record that may be brittle and bare, but is still curiously warm.
There’s light and shade too. ‘Coast To Coast’ is a cooing sun-kissed summer rock song that Bethany Cosentino’s Best Coast could have authored. Most of the tracks are around the two to three minute mark. As singular as Cerulean Salt is, (which incidentally means sky blue salt), I can’t help thinking her crowning moment is yet to come.