I Conjure Series

On the follow-up to Sweet Heart Fever, Scout Niblett has stripped away any pretense of traditional song structure and record album production. This is a barebones and stark one-woman rock show. Niblett performs all of the instruments here: vocals, drums, percussion, guitar, and singing bowl. One of two guitar and vocal-only songs, the beautifully simple "Rimsky to the Rescue" is the standout track here, far outshining the songs that use only drums and vocals, or vocals only. Although both playful and ferocious at times, this recording is a raw and lyrically moving tribute to the dark beauty of Scout Niblett's England. This mini-album was recorded live, just a train ride away from her hometown of Nottingham, England, and it sounds live. It's a rare thing in this age of overblown production to find anything quite as stripped down and whimsical, but after the initial shock wears off, everything fits together in a strange and jarring way. The stark and savage nature of I Conjure Series is essential for Secretly Canadian and Scout Niblett completists, but for those unfamiliar with her work Sweet Heart Fever is definitely the record you should purchase first.