Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
Born out of jam sessions in the desert, Sharon Van Etten – joined by her band The Attachment Theory – sounds perfectly at ease on her most playful album yet
Sharon Van Etten has invited her crack band behind the curtain for her latest album, resulting in a more varied collection of songs that sprawl from the speakers, and a loose-limbed feel that allows the spotlight to be shared.
The most immediate difference is the elevated presence of Teeny Lieberson's synths, evoking dark corners on Live Forever and augmenting the widescreen drama of Afterlife. They're relentless on Somethin' Ain't Right, reaching a thrilling crescendo with Van Etten's guitarwork in interweaving lockstep. There's a sense of 80s new wave-via-classic rock to the album which this song exemplifies, but is elsewhere felt in some Springsteen-esque vocalising or bass funk.
Van Etten's voice remains a unifying force, whether wrapped in ghostly reverb (Southern Life (What It Must Be Like)), galloping on a dream-punk beat (Indio) or cosplaying The Boss. Her lyrics concern topics familiar to her fans: Can love last? Can we ever truly know someone? Have we lost our connection to the world around us? The Attachment Theory highlight fascinating new aspects to Van Etten's craft, like the reflective prisms of precious stone. What is lost in cohesion is made up for by an exploratory freedom that the band revel in, hopping from wistful to explosive to triumphant.
Listen to: Idiot Box, Indio, I Want You Here