ô Seasons ô Castles / o Seasons o Castles

Welsh-born Katell Keineg explores the limits of her mesmerizing vocal range and impressionistic songwriting on her debut album, O Seasons O Castles. Little is predictable or comfortable in these tracks. Emotions shift from sorrow to anger as the musical dynamics swell and subside, riding sparse arrangements that blend acoustic folk and jazz elements. Keineg’s singing is remarkable, veering from soft murmurs to tormented cries and guttural moans (sometimes in the same song). Tunes like “Hestia,” “Burden," and “Paris” are cathartic meditations on lost love. The lyrics reach deeply inward, whether Keineg is ripping into a no-account lover (“Franklin”) or brooding over a cosmic sense of oppression and loss (“The Gulf of Araby”). The breezily upbeat pop of “Destiny’s Darling” and the punkish abandon of “Bop” add some contrast to this mostly ballad-heavy collection. Taking its title from an Arthur Rimbaud poem, O Seasons O Castles combines a delicate artistic sensibility with a visceral intensity that goes beyond typical singer/songwriter fare. A neglected gem from the ‘90s that’s well worth discovering.